What began as a perfunctory stomachache devolved into a lower-stomach-wide throbbing, something that neither Pepto Bismol tablets, nor the liquid could tame. Vomiting started, and to make matters more tantalizing, it was minus-5 degrees outside. To try to self-remedy the situation, I accessed an article on stomachaches within my iPhone. The author suggested massaging the area in the most pain. That, I tried, only to have instant reactions, with food, euphemistically, violently exiting my system.
Green River lacks a hospital. Yet Grand Junction was too distant. I couldn’t endure the added 1.5 hours or more. I made the executive decision to point the rental car southwards towards Moab, and in 10 minute increments, took naps as best as possible, to get to Moab Regional Hospital. I was dying. At last, I arrived in the parking lot, went in, and shortly was attended to in a way only imagined in other hospitals.
To my chagrin, I have had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time in hospitals. I recently suffered cancer in my arm. I had a cyst removed from my stomach earlier. A 5-inch piece of glass removed running all of the way through my hand and more, all experiences having provided ample exposure to hospitals, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Not only did Moab Regional Hospital have a gastroenterologist who could operate the same day, but he was able to drop everything, rearrange his schedule, and diagnose me – within an hour! Within three to four short hours I was on the table and the painful, possibly life-threatening gall bladder was out. No complications with the surgery. No problems with the anesthesiology. The nurses attended to me better at MRH than at any hospital that I have stayed at.
While staying at MRH, I lodged all manner of ridiculous requests, like cough drops at 3 a.m., extra iced teas at 5 a.m., and much more. The wound is healing nicely and at least I can put this chapter behind me. They honored my insurance that I still have. In short, if you are sick or dying, or perhaps need less-urgent care than did I – and especially before Obamacare really sets in – come to MRH and perhaps you’ll experience the same courteous, detailed, and customer-oriented attentiveness that I had.
—Jonathan Reed,
Colorado Springs, Colo.