Letter to the Editor

I want to share with the community my experience with our local hospital and encourage people to have colonoscopies done. In late April I had a single episode of rectal bleeding and my physician, Dr. Dale Clemens, recommended that I have an early colonoscopy. I was actually not due for a colonoscopy for another year. To my complete surprise, an early operable colon cancer was found on examination. I elected to have the surgical removal of that cancer done by Dr. Jack Alston at our local hospital, the Siloam Springs Regional Hospital.

I received outstanding care there. Their equipment was "state of the art." The surgery went well. Being part of a new "Early Recovery" protocol, I was up walking with physical therapy and taking clear liquids within hours of the surgery. Post-op pain was minimal thanks to Dr. Hunt Cooper, our anesthesiologist. Dr. Alston encouraged me in his daily rounds. His nurse Shawna was particularly helpful. I was also impressed with his new surgical partner Dr. Schiefelbein. The attending hospitalist Dr. Eberly was engaging, professional and knowledgeable. In the ICU and on the med-surg floor, the nursing staff were prompt, professional and pleasant. The nurses responded appropriately and quickly to my calls. The food was downright good. I was fed well. My daughter, who had worked in several hospitals, commented on how clean our hospital was relative to other larger hospitals. To a person, including the cleaning staff, they ended the visit with," Is there anything else we can do for you?"

Because of early diagnosis of my cancer by colonoscopy, my prognosis is excellent.

This is an outstanding hospital that our community can be proud. What it does, it does well and it is constantly expanding its services. I want to publicly acknowledge a job well done by the Administration, the doctors, the surgery staff, the nursing staff, physical therapy, dietary staff and cleaning staff. Based on personal, "insider" experience, I recommend the hospital highly.

George Benjamin, M.D.

Siloam Springs

Sports on 05/24/2017