Health Care Individuals Provide Highest Competency and Genuine Care

Dear Editor,

Seven years ago my wife, Lisa, and I decided to buy a vacation home on St. John. We have never regretted that decision and now spend about four months a year here.

While we enjoy St. John’s beauty, outdoor activities and lovely people, we have always had some concern about the availability and quality of emergency care. These concerns have now been answered.

On April 6, 2007, I experienced a medical emergency at our home requiring response by St. John’s EMTs and police department. The initial response led to three ambulance rides; a visit to Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center, a cruise on the “Star of Life,” and finally ending up at R.L. Schneider hospital in St. Thomas.

Emergency room service was received and tests performed leading to admittance to the ICU. Treatment was successful after a relatively short stay and I returned to St. John.

From start to finish, the health care individuals we encountered provided the highest standard of competency, combined with a genuine caring. This made the experience less frightening and more comfortable for my wife and I than it might have otherwise been. To the dedicated professionals too numerous to mention, you have our thanks and admiration.

It is our hope that by sharing our experience, others on St. John may sleep more soundly as we will knowing that St. John and St. Thomas provide us with such an effective safety net.

Sincerely,
Bob and Lisa Goodwin