St. Alexius Medical Center Makes Lasting Impression on Brian Burke and Family
01 Dec 2008
When Brian Burke and his wife Donna agreed to babysit their grandchildren a few months ago while their son Jim and his wife Mucia went to California, the last thing they expected to do was visit the emergency room at St. Alexius Medical Center (SAMC) in the middle of the night. But that is precisely what happened after their eight-year-old grandson, Brian, began complaining about severe stomach pains and then spiked a fever. Donna, who is a retired nurse, recognized something was seriously wrong, so she took him to SAMC where the ER staff determined Brian needed an appendectomy. She was especially impressed with how well the staff there was able to deal with the special needs and anxieties of children, as well as the concerns of their parents and grandparents
“Before surgery, we met with the pediatric surgeon,” says Burke. “He was very calming, and he even talked to Jim and Mucia over the phone long distance to reassure them. He was terrific.” By 6 a.m. the surgery was over and Brian was in recovery. “The staff there was so nice. They treated us with such kindness and made us feel comfortable and secure. They are extraordinary people,” says Burke. “I’ll never forget it.” By early afternoon, Burke’s son and his wife arrived at the hospital and the surgeon came back to meet with them. He even took a picture of Brian’s appendix, which is now one of the youngster’s most prized possessions.
By that time, Brian was awake and asking if he could go home. A little more than 12 hours after coming to the ER and having his appendix removed, Brian’s wish was granted. He was released from the hospital --- just in time to attend a birthday party for his grandparents’ dog, Noah at 4:30 p.m. “He is a dog lover and he was really looking forward to that party, so we went ahead with it,” says Burke.
Although a hospital visit was not on the agenda for the weekend, SAMC made sure it was a positive experience for everyone, especially for Brian and his siblings, according to Burke. “This was their first encounter with a hospital, and they left with good feelings about it,” he says. “Everyone at SAMC was outstanding and they should be very proud.”
A few weeks later, Burke was back at SAMC. This time Donna was having knee replacement surgery. After meeting with an orthopedic surgeon at SAMC who verified that Donna was a candidate for the surgery, they scheduled her surgery at SAMC. “We really liked the doctor and we already knew that we loved the hospital,” says Burke. On the day of surgery, Burke again found himself in the surgical waiting room where he had been when his grandson had surgery. “The staff understands that what you’re going through is a traumatic thing,” says Burke. “They keep you informed and they are always asking if there is anything else they can do for you. They are so professional.”
After spending time in the recovery room, Donna was assigned to a patient room. Burke was able to spend the next two nights in the room with her. “During that time, I was able to watch everything that happened and it was a real eye-opener,” says Burke who is President and CEO of Links Technology Solutions in Schaumburg, founding Chairman of the Board of the Schaumburg Business Association, and very active in the local business community. “Donna said the nurses were the best she’s ever seen. The entire staff was so attentive to her and they treated me well, too. They never made me feel like I was in the way. That really impressed me.” A few weeks later, Donna was walking around and driving the car. “You should see her now, “ says Burke, who added that his two recent experiences at SAMC have taught him an important lesson. “We hear a lot today about how health care in America is broken, but based on our personal experiences at SAMC, I can tell you that there are a lot of good things happening, too. The care we received at SAMC was spectacular, and it is nice to know they are right in our own back yard.”
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2008 Stewardship Report