Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, August 26, right in between Danny and Erika, I found myself at the ER of the Sint Maarten Medical Center with my daughter. The family doctor had just diagnosed her with possible severe anemia and more testing was urgent. I went to the ER with a heavy heart, because of the multitude of reports of negative experiences at SMMC that have come to my ears over the years. My daughter has multiple disabilities and I felt so vulnerable to be at the mercy of impersonal, uncaring and incompetent medical personnel.
The ER experience turned out to be not so bad. The nurses were business-like and efficient. The doctor came across as unengaged and detached, but got the job done. My daughter had to be admitted to the hospital for a blood transfusion, and it’s about that experience I want to ‘report’ to the readers of this newspaper.
What a pleasant surprise. The level of communication, professionalism, cleanliness and medical care was outstanding, and there was a willingness to help with the special care my daughter needed. Dr. Visschers came in to discuss cause, treatment and follow-up of my daughter’s condition and this consultation was all a patient could wish for from a doctor.
The nurses ( I wish I could remember all of your names ) were kind and caring and willing to bend the rules to accommodate my stay at the ward at my daughters’ side. Dear nurses, your efforts are greatly appreciated by my family. Thank you and keep up your excellent attitude and work. It does make a big difference to be treated with understanding and kindness when in a hospital setting
Liesbeth De Falco
