Tim Benson
Spine surgery, January 2009
“It was such a quality of life issue...
now it’s like nothing ever happened.”
In January 2009, Tim Benson’s life came to a screeching halt. Walking was almost impossible, and as an avid outdoorsman, every aspect of his life was being impacted. Three weeks of failed pain management later, Mr. Benson followed the recommendation of a friend and went to see Alexander Jones, M.D., medical director of the Spine Program at Orange Regional Medical Center and a member of Hudson Valley Neurosurgical Associates in Goshen, NY. [more]
“A patient walking into the office bent over is always a memorable patient,” Dr. Jones recalled. “When I saw Tim, I knew he was in pain.”
Within minutes of their first meeting, Dr. Jones had admitted Mr. Benson into the Horton Campus of Orange Regional Medical Center and scheduled him for a microdiscectomy – a very common procedure where a problematic disc is moved just enough to release pressure from the nerve root. The surgery took just over an hour to complete. Mr. Benson was home and pain free by dinnertime. The irony, Dr. Jones explained, is that many people suffer with this pain for months or years. [hide]
Maria Leo
Neck surgery, September 2008
“They made sure I felt good about the surgery...
and my recovery.”
Maria Leo thought the numbness in her arms and fingers was carpal tunnel syndrome. She saw a number of local doctors and became increasingly concerned about her symptoms, and was finally referred to Howard Yeon, M.D., a surgeon at Orange Regional and a member of Crystal Run Healthcare. [more]
Dr. Yeon discovered that Ms. Leo’s symptoms were caused by compression of the spinal cord. Through surgery, he was able to decompress her spinal cord and stabilize the vertebrae in her neck. Just six months later, Ms. Leo was back to enjoying her life. Her experience with Orange Regional Medical Center and Dr. Yeon was an extremely positive one, and she enjoys sharing her story with the community.
“He showed me the research on my condition and made it so simple to understand. I think one of my favorite things about Dr. Yeon was the care and compassion he showed, not just to me, but to my family – everyone connected to me. One of Dr. Yeon’s top priorities was to ensure that they understood everything and were not scared.” [hide]
Carol Abramson
Knee Replacement, June 2008
“Had I known it would be like this...
I would have done it much sooner.”
Carol Abramson had a history of knee injuries and was in a lot of pain. In fact, her right knee was getting to the point where she could no longer walk. But Carol was also a dog lover — one quite interested in acquiring a new lab puppy — and so she needed to find a way to be able to keep up, and of course, as she said herself, “Pain is a great motivator.” [more]
Since they split their time between homes in Bethel, NY, and Manhattan, Carol and her husband had many options to choose from for orthopedic care. But according to Carol, the question of where to go for treatment was never really a question at all.
“There was never even a second thought...we knew we were going to come up here to Orange Regional.”
Working with Dr. Kevin Trapp, a specialist in reconstructive surgery and chairman of the Department for Orthopedic Surgery at Orange Regional, Carol decided to proceed with minimally invasive knee replacement surgery. And within two days of the procedure, Carol was up and moving again.
Today, thanks to the surgery (and some highly praised physical therapy), Carol’s back to doing the things she loves, whether that means she’s going out on her pedal kayak, or simply playing with her lab puppy. [hide]
James Fiser
Knee Replacement, February 2010
“One thing I noticed was the feeling that everyone who dealt with me seemed to care how I felt, what my questions were, and how nervous I seemed to be.”
To all the RN’s, LPN’s, Aides, Therapists, Cleaners, Food servers, and anybody else that I missed:
Last month, 22 February 2010, I had right knee replacement surgery at Horton, and, after I was released from recovery, I was transferred to the Bone & Joint Unit on the Fifth Floor. What I remember of those days was very interesting. If I were a comedian, I would make all kinds of wise comments like constantly being woken up for vital signs, medications, etc.; but I’m not and I won’t. Instead, I want to make some serious comments about how you all treated me.
[more]
One thing I noticed was the feeling that everyone who dealt with me seemed to care how I felt, what my questions were, and how nervous I seemed to be. I was quite highly impressed with the attitude almost everyone on the floor showed...that of caring and concern. That attitude seemed to pervade the entire unit, at least as far as I could see. The sense of being an individual with cares, needs, and (yes) fears, was greatly enhanced by little things such as (1) being addressed by name, and not "the knee in 550", (2) each person introducing herself or himself, along with her/his title and function, and (3) being kept informed about what had happened, was about to happen, and the results and progress being made.
I also noticed that everyone was very courteous toward my visitors, and treated them like valuable parts of the healthcare team, and not “somebody who was in the way.” That meant a lot to me and those who did visit.
My original plan was going to be single out a few outstanding people, but I soon realized that would be impossible at best and incomplete at worst. Everyone I encountered seemed to go over and above the call of duty to teach that higher level of professionalism we so often do not see today. Have no fear...it is alive and well on The Bone Unit!
Thank you for all you have done.
Sincerely,
Jim Fiser
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Karen Wade
Hip Replacement, July 2010
“I truly believe that being in a positive environment is an important component of successful recovery.”
Two weeks ago, I was a patient at ORMC, Horton Campus. I had total hip replacement surgery, performed flawlessly by Dr. Kevin Trapp. I am writing to you to express my satisfaction and delight with all of the people who worked with me during my stay in Tower Five, Orthopedics.
I was greeted by a team of people as I was transferred to my room from recovery. My RN, Debbie, was welcoming and helpful, giving me as much time as I needed to ask questions. She was dedicated and caring, an attitude that was displayed time and again by all the caregivers during my 3-day stay at the hospital.
[more]
I would like to mention certain people by name. Simone Stein, Director of the Bone and Joint Center, visited me frequently to determine if I had any needs or questions. Eileen Frank and Jessica Casey were there to provide me with verbal and written information about my care after the hospital, and certain medications that I would be taking for a month or so. Each of these women provided me with phone numbers and encouraged me to contact them whenever I had any questions. In addition, I have been contacted at home as well, as a follow-up to my hospital stay.
I recognize that the women mentioned in the above paragraph are at the top of their field, but the professional care and interest I received at your hospital did not stop with them. In particular, I would like to thank Dawn, Michelle, Rosa, and Debbie, RNs who had hearts of gold combined with empathy and professional-ism. Marlena, Talisha, and Meagan were CNAs who were attentive, helpful and compassionate at all times. (I’d like to mention another CNA, but I forget her name. She had photos of her children on the reverse side of her ID tag, and she was also wonderful!)
Additionally, I’d like to say a quick word about the food service. This was my first hospital stay since 1984, in Westchester, when I had a baby. The food there was not only not good, but it looked and smelled horrible, delivered wordlessly and left by the side of the room. This was definitely not the case at ORMC! The people who delivered the food chatted with me and made sure to tell me that I could call for anything else that I needed; they brought the food to me and waited until I was in a comfortable position to eat before they left my room. There was even an attractive placemat on the food tray with each meal (my 2nd grade daughter was very impressed by this!). And wonder of wonders – the food looked normal and tasted good! Kudos!
My physical therapy began the day after my surgery. I was greeted by Melody, a PT, and Marge, an OT, who worked together to get me out of my bed and ambulating around the room. Their care was followed up by Andrew and Bill, two additional PTs. Each person was encouraging and helpful, with tips on how to successfully navigate my way through the room and the hallway. While I recognize that this is their job to do, I need for you to understand how well they do what they do. During their brief time with me, they were totally focused on my recovery and how to make it as successful as possible.
Even the workers who came to change the garbage bags, clean the bathroom and floor, etc., took the time to ask if it was OK for them to come in, chatted with me, and asked about my progress. I truly felt as if they were part of the team. Every person who came to my room had a kind word and a gentle attitude.
Mr. Batulis, I truly believe that being in a positive environment is an important component of successful recovery; and I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by health care professionals who seemed to enjoy their work and their interactions not only with the patients, but with each other. It’s very easy to pick up on discontent within a small unit like the one I was in. These people spoke to each other respectfully, and were united in their commitment to provide quality care to their patients. Their positive attitudes helped to amplify my own, so that I could immediately begin the work of successful recovery.
I will recommend this hospital to every person who ever initiates a discussion of hospitals. Dr. Trapp has indicated that somewhere down the road, there might be a surgery necessary for my other hip. I will go into that experience with no qualms, because I know that from my initial consult with Dr. Trapp through my surgery education with Simone Stein, to the actual surgery, hospital stay and recovery itself, I will be surrounded by expert professionals who are at the top of their game. They will set the course for an excellent recovery, and I expect the sailing will be as smooth then, as it is now. Your staff is to be commended for dedication, professionalism, and excellence. I am most grateful for an excellent experience and quality care.
Yours truly,
Karen Wade
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Rae Bair
Double Knee Replacement, May 2010
“Every staff member was focused on the mission to see that Rae was given the best care that they could have provided.”
Recently my wife, Rae Bair, had a double knee replacement done at your hospital. Her operation, to date, has been a complete success. She is just over a month into the healing process and already is walking unassisted. She still feels some discomfort and her energy levels are still low, but that is to be expected, we were told.
Her remarkable recovery from the double knee replacement is in no small way because of the surgeon we had, Dr. Eric Martin. But, once he turned Rae over to your staff for the healing end of the process, everything only went further uphill.[more]
Our first contact with your staff was when we met Simone Stein, manager of the Bone and Joint Center. She presented the pre-surgical class we attended. This class was most informative. The information supplied was very helpful in that it got us completely ready for the task ahead. When we got to the hospital the day for surgery, Simone was there, at that very early hour, to greet us and to see that we got through the in-processing activities in good order. She was involved with the after care in the surgical section and she stayed in the process until we left the hospital. Simone is an outstanding professional.
Once Rae was released to the Rehab Unit, we had the distinct opportunity to meet Ms. Carmella P. Halpern, Nurse Director-Rehab Unit. She took Rae under her wing. There were a few issues that needed to be handled and Carmella saw them through to our happy and healthy satisfaction. Carmella is another outstanding professional who used her management skills to guide her great staff to make Rae’s experience in the unit the best that it could have possibly have been. You are most fortunate to have a person such as Carmella on your staff and so were we!
I wish that I knew the names of all the hard working staff members that came in contact with Rae while she was in the hospital. Their attitudes were excellent. They were all, every one of them, focused on the mission to see that Rae was given the best care that they could have provided. This applies to the entire staff, the volunteers at the front door, the folks in charge of sparkle, the food staff, the Aids, and the Nurses each did their jobs efficiently, effectively, and with a smile when needed. Because of the way that they each approached their jobs, we knew that all these busy people were in the game!
Thank you for allowing me to share our experiences with you. Thank you for the great work you do at Horton Hospital.
Sincerely,
James A. Bair, Jr.
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Cathleen P. Lear
Hip Replacement, June 2010
“From admission to short stay I was put at ease and knew, without a doubt, that I was in the right place.”
Dear Mr. Batulis,
I would be sorely remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank you, the Administrative staff, the Board of Directors and employees for providing a wonderful hospital experience.
[more]
I attended a Joint Replacement Seminar, led by Simone Stein. What a satisfying program for prospective patients to learn, exchange ideas, ask questions and be as well informed as possible about joint replacement surgery. Mrs. Stein was impeccably prepared and conveyed information, sharing her expertise in a caring, professional manner which left no doubt for anyone that ORMC was a premier institution to select for this surgery.
On June 8, 2010, Dr. Trapp performed a total hip replacement for me at ORMC. From the admission to short stay, the visitation by the operating room nurses who would be working with Dr. Trapp and the excellent care by Dr. Sharma, I was put at ease and knew, without a doubt, that I was in the right place. The recovery room staff was supportive and professional. I went to the Bone and Joint Unit for my initial recovery. Simone Stein, each and every nurse and staff member conveyed a sense of confidence and were supremely encouraging and supportive.
The entire experience made me proud that I am a Nurse. I hope that you will convey my deep sense of satisfaction and gratitude for providing superlative care which was positive in every aspect. Thank you.
Thank you for allowing me to share our experiences with you. Thank you for the great work you do at Horton Hospital.
Sincerely,
Cathleen P. Lear
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Ronald Cota
Knee Replacement, November 2009
“...I was convinced that if I followed instructions and came to my physical therapy appointments I would be a success story”
My name is Ronald Cota and in November of 2009 I had a full right knee replacement done at the Hospital for Special Surgery by Doctor Thomas Sculco. Believe it or not he is one of the best, so I did my homework again to try and find the best physical therapy I could receive.
[more]
I was recommended to Orange Regional Medical Center. At this point I was very disappointed that I had the surgery because now the original pain was gone and a new one surfaced. When I met Mary Lubniewski at your facility my whole outlook changed. She convinced me that if I followed her instructions and came to my physical therapy appointments she would make me a success story and that within a year I wouldn’t know which knee I had the operation done on. Well she was wrong - it only took 10 months. I also received physical therapy for my arthritic shoulders and I feel much better now. Mary really cares about her patients and if you ask her why, she puts 100 percent into it and she will tell you she likes helping people. So give her a raise or extra vacation days this year. As far as the way your facility is operated I applaud Diane Strysko and her team. Why? Because like the sign says, if you are not called in ten minutes see the front desk. I never had to see the front desk.
Thank you,
Ronald Cota
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Kathleen Lanier
Knee Replacement, November 2010
“The staff, nurses, doctor and the anesthesiologist were absolutely wonderful.”
To Everyone,
So often people forget to say thank you.
My mom moved here to live with me from California in April of 2009, she is now 73. She has had ongoing issues with arthritis. She has had both hips replaced (in California) and had major problems with her right knee. When I took her to an Orthopedic doctor he said it was inevitable she had to have knee replacement. She did not want to hear that. She had been putting it off for quite some time. She was to the point that I had to go and get a wheelchair, we finally convinced her to get it done. It has been quite a challenge having my mom move in with us, although I would not have it any other way. [more]
On November 2nd my mom had knee replacement surgery at the Horton Campus. She was very nervous and scared. The staff in the OR let me stay with her until they came in to take her into surgery. They made her feel very comfortable and at ease. The staff, nurses, doctor and the anesthesiologist were absolutely wonderful.
When she was transferred up to the Bone and Joint center, they were all great, she had one bad experience and it was taken care of immediately, everyone there was awesome. I can't say enough about Simone, Jessica and all the staff there. Jessica even called my house last week to see how Mom was doing. My mom was thrilled.
She then went down to the Rehab unit. Carmella treated her as if she were her own mother. The physical therapists, the nursing staff, case management, housekeeping staff and the nutrition staff all treated her like gold. Anything she needed they made sure she had it. Everyone at the hospital was wonderful.
I am also an employee here, I have always known we have awesome people, but you sometimes forget in the everyday hustle and bustle of life. I can't thank you all enough for the comfort and ease that my family felt during my mom’s stay here.
Her quality of life has been restored, along with her confidence. Thank you from her and I.
Kathleen Lanier
Lead Operator, Telecomm
Horton Campus
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