For any mom, having to take your children to the emergency room (ER) just one time is scary enough. For Stevenson, Wash., resident Judith Lanz, multiply that by 10. A single mother raising three children, she has experienced her fair share of accidents and ER visits.
“Over the years, I’ve had to use Skyline Health’s ER for each of my kids,” said Lanz. “From cuts, sprains, serious illnesses and everything in-between, Skyline has been there for my family.”
Lanz’s most recent experience happened during her son’s track meet in Vancouver, Wash. Theo Lanz, a high school athlete and cross country runner, took a hard fall while competing, causing a severe ankle injury. As a concerned mother, Lanz took him to the closest Vancouver ER.
“We arrived at the ER to a room full of patients waiting to be treated,” said Lanz. “I was told it would be at least four hours before we could be seen by a physician and this timeframe was dependent on whether or not a life-threatening situation arrived ahead of us.”
Worried about her son and without knowing how long the wait might be, Lanz said, “I started doing the calculations in my head on how long it would take me to get to Skyline.” After realizing she was only an hour to her hometown health care provider, she called Skyline’s ER, explained her situation and asked how long the wait time would be. “We can get you in right away” was the answer. This is all Lanz needed to put her son into the car and drive to White Salmon.
“Upon arrival, we were welcomed at the door with a wheelchair and seen by a familiar provider immediately,” continued Lanz. “This is typical of the experience at Skyline. It’s the same medical care Theo would have received at at the ER in Vancouver except it’s more personalized and attentive because they take the time to attend to individual needs.”
Theo’s ankle injury turned out to be a bad sprain, which Lanz said “Gave me a great amount of relief. “I’ve had so many positive experiences and everyone has always welcomed me and my children with warm open arms,” smiled Lanz. “I hope I never need an ER again, but if I do, it’s reassuring to know Skyline’s staff is ready and poised to provide excellent care. We really and truly won’t go anywhere else for our care.”