10-08-2012, 02:05 PM
The commonly held idea here is that we just can't get decent medical care, and that for anything more invasive than application of a band aid we have to fly to Oahu. I think that in the past this has been true, but I want to testify that things are getting better.
I recently had to have fairly routine surgery, that was made slightly more complicated by my allergies to most antibiotics, sutures, band aids, and all adhesive dressings, plus a scary sensitivity to most sedatives and anesthesia. I could not afford to fly to Honolulu for surgery so I went to the new guy in town, Dr. Bochkarev, and he did the surgery 2 weeks ago last Friday.
The surgery went fine, but I ran into some issues about 1 week after I went home. I broke out in nasty itchy red hives all over my body, and the beautifully healing incisions turned into giant red and purple circles. Because it was the weekend, I went to the Pahoa clinic where Dan Domizio gave me excellent care, including telling me to call my surgeon right away. We called the answering service, Dr. Bochkarev called back within 5 minutes and arranged to meet me at the emergency room so he could make sure I didn't have an infection. There he called in the ER doctor for an consult, vetoed the antibiotics and steroids, and sent me on my way with good care advice and a follow up appointment.
My point is that every step of the way I got great care, in the hospital short stay unit, from the surgical team, from PCMC and Dan Domizio, from the emergency room crew, and from my surgeon, Dr. Bochkarev. I would give all of them an unqualified recommendation to anyone needing medical care here on the Big Island. We do not have to automatically fly to Oahu for medical care, there are good providers right here.
Carol
I recently had to have fairly routine surgery, that was made slightly more complicated by my allergies to most antibiotics, sutures, band aids, and all adhesive dressings, plus a scary sensitivity to most sedatives and anesthesia. I could not afford to fly to Honolulu for surgery so I went to the new guy in town, Dr. Bochkarev, and he did the surgery 2 weeks ago last Friday.
The surgery went fine, but I ran into some issues about 1 week after I went home. I broke out in nasty itchy red hives all over my body, and the beautifully healing incisions turned into giant red and purple circles. Because it was the weekend, I went to the Pahoa clinic where Dan Domizio gave me excellent care, including telling me to call my surgeon right away. We called the answering service, Dr. Bochkarev called back within 5 minutes and arranged to meet me at the emergency room so he could make sure I didn't have an infection. There he called in the ER doctor for an consult, vetoed the antibiotics and steroids, and sent me on my way with good care advice and a follow up appointment.
My point is that every step of the way I got great care, in the hospital short stay unit, from the surgical team, from PCMC and Dan Domizio, from the emergency room crew, and from my surgeon, Dr. Bochkarev. I would give all of them an unqualified recommendation to anyone needing medical care here on the Big Island. We do not have to automatically fly to Oahu for medical care, there are good providers right here.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
