Local Coordinated Care Offers Peace of Mind [Jenifer Jones]

Hi, my name is Jennifer Jones. I live in Brookings and I work remotely in the Communications Department for a Christian missions organization.

What brings you to the Brookings Health System ER?

I have a number of complex and severe digestive issues and those are usually managed by a specialist out of state. But when my symptoms flare up, I find myself in the ER for pain management and hydration and then just to run tests to make sure there aren't any additional issues that need to be addressed.

How are your experiences in the emergency room?

Well, I'm really grateful because here, in the ER, I've always been seen super quickly. I think my first experience in an ER was in a bigger city and I just remember how awful that was to be sitting there in the crowded room full of people, that it takes forever and you're miserable. So I am so grateful that every time I've gone to the ER in Brookings, one time it was just me in the waiting room, another time it was just two or three other people. And so I've always been able to be seen really quickly, get back to a room really quickly and start the diagnosis and treatment process really quickly. So I'm really thankful for that.

Why are you admitted to inpatient care?

My digestive issues are really painful and it's hard to get that pain under control. And so usually, I end up a couple of nights in the hospital because we just can't get my pain under control. And so once I'm admitted into the ER, we kind of talk about, am I feeling ready to go home? Am I not? And usually the pain isn't under control enough for me to feel comfortable going home and being on oral meds. And so they admit me into inpatient so they can continue to give me IV medication and fluid. And then we slowly work to the point where oral medications can work. And then, of course, also, you know, do bloodwork and sometimes do a CT scan to make sure that there's nothing else happening that needs to be treated.

How does the inpatient team keep you comfortable?

Well, you all have a fabulous team here, wonderful nurses. I will say that one of the biggest things that keeps me comfortable here is you all have beautiful facilities. I have stayed in a number of hospitals over the years and I think your inpatient rooms are the best. I think they feel more like maybe staying in a nice hotel than a hospital room. And so much of being in the hospital is a mental battle. And when you can be in a beautiful space, then that just makes that mental battle so much easier. So just the rooms themselves are comfortable. And then, yeah, very, very attentive nursing team.

How is the collaboration between your specialist and Brookings Health System?

It's huge that my specialists at the University of Minnesota and Health Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis and doctors here are able to work together because I've been hospitalized a few times in Minneapolis as well. And whenever they're ready to release me or whenever I'm feeling ready to be released, you know, they've said, "Are you sure you're ready to go home? Like, you sure you're you're feeling stable enough?" And it's always been so comforting to me that I'm able to say, "Yeah," and if something changes, I've got a great hospital right at home and I can just go to the ER and get, you know, the testing that I need and the pain meds that I need and whatever else. And, yeah, that's just been given me such a peace of mind because, you know, Minneapolis is rather far away and I can't imagine having to drive all the way there when I'm feeling sick. I've been so grateful for a great local hospital and grateful that the two were able to work together to make sure that I'm getting the care that I need and that all the problems are being checked out and taken care of the way they need to be taken care of.

What do you appreciate most?

The rooms are marvelous. It was so nice to be able to be right here in Brookings where my family is and my friends are. One thing that I love about the rooms is that they're... The rooms are set up to be so visitor friendly. They're spacious. They have a lot of seating and so multiple family members were able to come visit at once. Part of the couch pops up into a little table so my nephews and niece and I played "Go Fish" and we drew pictures, and that to me is the best medicine because again, for me, it's such a mental battle. And so if I can be in a space that allows visitors to come and hang out and for them to be comfortable as well and for us to spend a lot of time together, that's just so essential to my care and mental health. I also appreciated that, you know, the staff really tried to look at things from different angles. I've been visited by the nutritionist here, who is just a wonderful human, and she was really racking her brain to think of different options for my nutrition that we haven't thought of, I've been visited by the chaplain and he was wonderful and, you know, just being surrounded by wonderful people the whole time. I mean really I think that nurses can make or break a hospital stay and I was just happy with all of them and so yeah, I'm really really grateful for all the people who make this such a great hospital.

What does it mean to have spiritual care?

My faith is really important to me and so it was just nice to talk to someone who could, you know, talk with me on that level and he was just really encouraging and it's so nice to know that people are, you know, praying for you and available if you need, sort of, I guess, counseling or encouragement on that level. So I think that's a great a great resource that you guys have here.

Why do you recommend Brookings Health System?

A good hospital is vital to any community and I'm so thankful that we have such a nice one here that can offer offer so many tests right here and offer so many services right here. I've been so grateful, like I said, to be able to go into the ER and be seen relatively quickly, been so grateful that I don't have to drive to a different community to receive pain meds or fluids or testing or whatever it is. So Brookings Health System has you know top notch medical professionals super duper caring nurses a lot of great people, and the facility itself is really great, so yeah, I've been really happy with my care here, and so yeah, I think other people would be too.

Are you one of Brookings Health System's grateful patients who would like to give back to us? Learn more about how you can give back at brookingshealth.org/MyThanks.