My Experience at St. Mary's Hospital and How It's Different Than Other Hospitals

When we met with the doctors at Mayo Clinic, we were instructed that if I were to require hospital care I would be admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. During one of our MANY trips to Mayo Clinic, Dr. Hansel admitted me to Saint Mary's for extremely high calcium and low potassium. By the time I had been admitted to St. Mary's, I had been in four other hospitals, three in Iowa, and one in Milwaukee. There are several excellent qualities that sets St. Mary's apart from other hospitals.

First the nurses are proactive. Instead of waiting until you ask for medication or help, the nurses dialogue with the doctor to intervene before the pain or discomfort is beyond manageable. Second, the nurse call button is just that, a button that calls the nurse! On most hospital beds there is a nurse button, and usually it is intercom based where the nurse will ask, "May I help you?" However; in St. Mary's Hospital, you press the nurse button and the nurse comes to your room to see what you need! This is the only hospital of the four I have been in this year that does not screen your request, makes total sense if you ask to talk to a nurse that one comes to you! Personally, I think every hospital should follow this form of communication. It reinforces the fact that the patient is important and has a nurse that cares. Finally, the doctor encouraged walking and mobility and in my case pushed for activity rather than the Heparin injection. Since I was so ill during each of my hospitalizations, all the hospitals previous to St. Mary's required the Heparin injection to protect from blood clots. This approach of keeping active fits with the first approach of the nurses being proactive. The goal after being admitted to St. Mary's is having a team of doctors and specialists brainstorming on getting you better so you can be released from the hospital! I liked being challenged to walk versus taking Heparin, Saint Mary's has two courtyards, I loved being able to walk outside and feel the sunshine on my skin. Six months of repeated hospitalizations was quite challenging, but I am thankful for the care I received from each of the hospitals I was admitted. I am especially grateful for the extra dose of care I was given at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota!