On July 4, 2021, Sarah Smith noticed symptoms of blood clots in her legs. Having just given birth to her daughter Jessica almost a week prior, Smith called her obstetrician in a panic on what to do.
“I had just given birth to our rainbow baby, Jessica, just five or six days prior. I had a really teeny tiny newborn, and I was having some symptoms of blood clotting in my legs. I called my OB probably at about 11 o'clock that night and she told me that I needed to go to the emergency room just to be checked out to make sure that there was nothing that we were missing,” Smith said.
Since Smith was breastfeeding her daughter, she couldn’t leave her at home for an extended period of time. For that reason, finding a hospital that would work with Smith’s accommodations was absolutely vital.
“So the night that I was looking for a facility to go to, there were a few factors that were playing into the decision. One, I exclusively breastfed my daughter, so having a safe environment for her to come with me was important. Given that she was so young and little, I didn't want to leave her with a family member or anything. So that was another factor,” Smith said.
Smith’s experience giving birth also added to her anxiety when it came to visiting the hospital. Having a group of strangers work with you in a vulnerable time of need can be intense, so having the right people to do the job is crucial.
“Coming from a somewhat eventful delivery with my daughter, the hospital setting was nerve-wracking. It makes you nervous,” Smith said. “You're in the hands of strangers and you hope that they're as competent and as compassionate as you. You need them to be to give you the care that you need physically, mentally, emotionally, all of that. I had two pretty sizable IVs put in my arms when I went to deliver my daughter a few days before my visit, so I was pretty anxious about that to be honest.”
Smith gave Northwest Indiana ER & Hospital a call and was immediately put at ease for how welcoming they were to her and her daughter.
“I called right before I went in, probably 20 minutes before, and I spoke to the receptionist. She just reassured me that I could bring the baby in, I would be put in a private room, and I would be able to nurse her on demand, which was really, really important. That was adding a lot of anxiety to an already scary situation,” Smith said.
Smith also appreciated the option of having a private room in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She noticed how clean everything was and how even the pens were wiped down before being handed over for her to use.
Upon her arrival, Smith was treated almost immediately after she was dropped off at the front door. By the time her husband came in after parking the car, she was already filling out paperwork. Shortly after, she was taken to her room.
The rest of the staff also treated to Smith in a helpful, kind, and efficient manner, proving that NW Indiana ER & Hospital and its staff genuinely care about its patients and wants the best possible outcome for them.
“My overall experience was nothing short of just amazing. All of my concerns were put at ease. When I was initially admitted and when I came to the facility, the receptionist was just so reassuring and sweet,” Smith said. “I was taken to my private room and then my nurse was really sweet and gentle. I had a really difficult IV placement, but she was gentle and it was very fast.”
“I saw Dr. Freeman probably five minutes after I was taken to my room. He came in and explained everything that was going to happen. I was offered water and snacks, which was really nice as a breastfeeding mom,” Smith said. “Probably 10 minutes after that, the ultrasound technician came in and I was given a warm blanket. I think I fell asleep during the procedure; I was just super relaxed and chill and everything was amazing.”
Her experience made her remark that she wanted NW Indiana ER & Hospital to always be her first stop for any medical situation.
“I even joked with my nurse that if I ever need another IV, I'm going to come and see her first and then go to whatever hospital I'm having the operation at. They were super gentle, really kind, and very understanding that I was nervous after having a teeny tiny baby out,” Smith said.
Smith noted how it was the people and the quality of care that made her hospital visit stand out compared to past visits.
“You just recognize when people are trying to do what's right and are trying to treat people with the compassion and the care that they deserve,” Smith said.
For more information on NW Indiana ER & Hospital, visit www.nwindianaer.com