As one travels and/or relocates the quality and availability of healthcare is always a consideration. Most of us are pretty attached to our primary care provider and/or healthcare system and face using a new one with trepidation. Although I am familiar and comfortable with the healthcare industry that I worked in through my 40 year career, I had the same concerns when faced with reestablishing care in the area.
Several years ago I commenced carrying out due diligence on both the Avera and Sanford systems through online research and talking with area residents. Although both systems seem well established and respected, I settled on using Sanford mostly because Ortonville is closer than Milbank for me. Of note, having grown up and worked in the Milbank system, I do feel like a bit of a traitor not using Avera, especially after the hospital administrator gave my mother and me such a great tour of the new facility last summer.
I chose a nurse practitioner (former nurse) as my primary care provider because they always seem to take a more personal interest in my care and are willing and/or able to spend more time with me than the physicians. Plus, I like their enthusiasm as they establish their patient relationships and attempt to get to the bottom of any presenting complaint. My particular provider seems to appreciate my system familiarity and ownership of my care so always welcomes me warmly. I have been impressed by the diverse array of services offered through Sanford which I understand are also readily available through Avera. The fact that so many specialists and diagnostic services are available in the many rural communities both systems serve represents great customer service in an industry that, historically, has not always been so user friendly. The comprehensive regional therapy service network that is integrated into the larger systems also seems to serve area residents well. Getting prescription refills has been seamless and local pharmacy choice keeps customer service in this area healthy. Finally, both systems have excellent time sensitive patient feedback systems and online patient portals to track care. The nature of small rural Midwestern communities, where everyone knows and/or is related to everyone else, fosters quality care and system accountability in a way large city care cannot. My provider was recently out on maternity leave but was the first person I saw in the grocery store upon my return last spring. All in all, I have had an excellent experience with the local healthcare systems to date.
After hitting the gym with a vengeance last winter, I experienced a lower back flare that I have been attempting to manage over the past several months. Knowing I was returning to the area before I was back on my feet, I had the opportunity to establish care at Sanford Physical Medicine and Rehabilitative Services in Sioux Falls. Again, I had an excellent experience from my first call to the office, through medical records transfer, appointment scheduling, insurance verification, arrangement of testing and prompt procedure scheduling and follow up. Although from my introduction letter they knew they were dealing with “one of their own,” I loved the team I worked with. The nurse could easily become my drinking buddy, the physician’s assistant (prior physical therapist) was friendly, thorough and had Hartford Beach stories to share from his youth and the serious young physician’s training and experience rivals that of those practicing in the big city. The choice of pain management as a specialty is admirable and challenging work and he is a South Dakota boy who has chosen to come home to practice. What’s not to like? I am sure there will be more healthcare stories in my future but I am off to a great start with the local systems that area residents are fortunate to have access to in the heartland. 2018