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Stories

Great Care Services are Close to Home

Caption: Celebrating Excellent Care are (l-r) Lynn Dalrymple, RN; Saleicha Baksh; Amber Holland, CNA; Sharon and John Kennedy; Karen McGibbon, MD; Barbara Peterson; and Karen Bryner.

Let's start this story with what John Kennedy of Ocean View said to me as we were ending our interview.

"We moved here full time in 2010 and this is now our home. I just don't understand why some people who live here permanently feel like they have to go back across a bridge to get medical care. I know people who go back to Baltimore or Philadelphia, but based on my experience, I don't feel I need to go anywhere but Beebe. Beebe Healthcare is right here when I need them. I personally think that Beebe has all of the facilities that I would require. I wouldn't consider going anywhere else unless Beebe couldn't provide me with what I needed."

John believes this because of all of the great experiences he has had at Beebe Healthcare over the years.

"I've received care at Beebe's Emergency Department in Lewes more than a couple of times. I have been there probably four or five times in the last four years. Most of these visits were for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, or AFib. It got to the point where I would feel so comfortable in the car while Sharon was driving me up to Lewes because I knew the quality of care I would soon receive.

"The Emergency Department is really good in a lot of ways. There's always a very welcoming staff, and I've never had to wait, fortunately, more than five minutes. This was probably because I was there for my heart and that raised my priority, plus we are often there at 2 a.m. Within 10 or 15 minutes of coming into the Emergency Department, I've had blood work done, and the doctor has come in to see me and decide what we are going to do.

"My first experience with AFib happened years ago. Through my visits to the Emergency Department, I met Dr. Freih and Dr. El Sabbagh, who were probably the cardiologists on call. Dr. Freih is now my cardiologist. Dr. El Sabbagh performed my ablation in March 2016, and he was the first physician ever to call me at home after my surgery to find out how I was doing. I didn't know what to say to him! I thought, 'What, you're calling me?'

I don't think I've ever had a doctor call me at home. This showed me how much Beebe's doctors care about their patients.

"I've also had four surgeries at Beebe. My experience has been the same on the surgical side. You may go in through a different door, but Beebe's service is always excellent. My first surgery at Beebe was for my right knee in 2008. We were coming here on the weekends and I had heard about Dr. Wilson Choy, and that's why I went to see him. I stayed here at our vacation home for my recovery. Dr. Choy fixes all of my other parts that aren't heart-related. He started out with my right knee, then my left knee, then my right hip, and he'll probably do my left hip, if they can squeeze me in."

John's wife Sharon jumped into the conversation, adding, "I'm in really good shape - I still have all of my original parts." (Big smile.) "I think the flat-screen monitors in the surgical waiting area are just terrific. These monitors show the progress of your family member as they are going through their surgery. I was able to see when John was in Pre-Op Prep, the Operating Room, and when he moved into Recovery."

John continued, "Usually no one is in a good mood when they are in the hospital. It's easy to get crotchety because you are lying on your back for a couple of days at a time, and you are having some pain. When I had my surgeries, every person who was involved with my care was just wonderful. It would be really hard for me to pick just one person to recognize because everyone was so exceptionally kind and caring.

"The care I received after I left the hospital, by Beebe Home Care Services and Beebe Physical Rehabilitation, was excellent, too. I remember I called once because I had a question about my medication, and they answered my question right on the spot. That part of the process is very good.

The physical therapist this last time was also great. Eric would call me about an hour before he arrived, and was always on time.

"The only issue I have had since we moved here was my original primary care physician was in Dover. When we moved, I decided I needed someone who was close by. I've had two primary care doctors since I have been here full time. One left the area and my most recent one retired in May. The nice thing is Beebe Healthcare sent me a letter with the names of two potential new primary care physicians, which I have contacted and now have a new primary care physician. Sharon's primary care doctor is still in Dover, and told her that if she ever needed to go to the hospital she could go to Beebe.

"I love the fact that I can have my blood work or diagnostic imaging done in Millville at Beebe's Lab Express and Imaging Center, and if I need immediate care, I can go to the Walk-In Care on Route 26, and that is open early. I get excellent service. The folks there know me by name. Getting to Beebe in Lewes is no problem except maybe on a Sunday afternoon during the summer when everyone is trying to go north on Route 1. The facilities here are great, and when they have the new facility in Millville on Route 17, it is going to be even better."

South Coastal residents will soon see the development of a Beebe Health Campus in Millville on Route 17 that will include a new year-round freestanding emergency department that has long been desired by many residents in the area. In addition, a comprehensive satellite facility of Beebe's Tunnell Cancer Center will be developed that will include radiation and chemotherapy treatment. The development of these two services will augment the full diagnostic imaging, physical rehabilitation services, laboratory, and walk-in care that are currently offered in Millville on Route 26.

John and Sharon Kennedy made a gift to the Beebe Medical Foundation to celebrate the Beebe team members who have provided John with excellent care. As a community-owned, not-for-profit healthcare system, Beebe continues to depend on the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses, and private foundations. All gifts, large or small, to Beebe Healthcare, are tax deductible and are channeled through Beebe Medical Foundation. Please consider making a gift today and share your amazing stories with our community.

To make your proud personal donation or to learn more about Celebrate Excellent Care, go to www.beebemedicalfoundation.org, contact the Beebe Medical Foundation at (302) 644-2900, or email [email protected].