Our experience at MSKCC - exceptional care!

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all the sad stories about not-so-great experience at post-surgery recovery, lack of doctors' and nurses' attention and inadequate care. This made me appreciate the great treatment we have received at the Memorial Sloan Kettering even more. I thought I would write a few words here about the care and the attention we have received after Tom's MIE. I do not want to suggest in any way that MSKCC is a better hospital or recommend it as the best place to get the treatment - I really cannot make such generalized claims. Perhaps we just got lucky.

To begin with, Tom's surgeon, Dr. Nabil Rizk, was coming to check on Tom every morning, except Sunday and days when he performed surgeries. On the few days Dr. Rizk was not doing patient visits, we had a team of other doctors checking on Tom's condition. We never felt like those visits were rushed or were simply a matter of formality - we got responses to all of our questions and concerns, even the silliest of them. Again, I cannot guarantee that all doctors are similarly attentive. There were several patients on the same floor who had surgeries done by Dr. Valerie Rusch and complained that they had not seen her for days. Which is again not an indication of poor skills or lack of professionalism.

Now that I read comments about nurses at Pittsburgh and other places, I realize that I have really no reason to be upset about 10-15 minutes of wait for nurses or PCTs to come and refill Tom's feeding or hydration. Each and everyone of them did their job exceptionally well. During the first few days, we had someone come every 2 hours to check on Tom. That is in addition to my buzzing the help button for an additional blanket, pillow, help with the bed, what not. During the night shifts Allison and Christine demonstrated some exceptional ability of moving quietly in the dark to check Tom's temperature and pressure, drain and flush the tubes without disturbing him, me or the other patient sharing the room with Tom.

Everyone, including respiratory team, nutritionists, physical therapist, MDs, residents, technicians escorting Tom to daily x-rays, cleaning personnel, and volunteers were constantly available to help or offer support. At the time of our stay we were actually overwhelmed if not a bit annoyed by all this attention and the necessity to answer the same questions over and over again, or be forced to do the minimum required number of laps in the hallway, or be woken up to do the respiratory or physical exercises. But now, we understand how important those were for Tom's recovery.

This is our experience and I am extremely grateful to the whole MSKCC team for making a decision to take this job and do it so well, although I would really prefer not to ever-ever meet them under these circumstances!

Olya