To the Editor:

Going to the emergency room is never fun. However, nothing is worse than the experience of being a parent to a child in the emergency room.

Recently, I found myself in this position in my home community of Fort Dodge. When in need of care, I took my child to UnityPoint Medical Center’s Emergency Room in Fort Dodge, and it was one of the worst experiences with the medical care system I have ever had.

The details of that visit are irrelevant now because my daughter is happy and healthy at home today.

What is relevant is this. As sometimes happens when living in a family unit, Murphy’s law … “What can go wrong, does go wrong.” The very next day after my daughter needed care, I too found myself in need of a trip to the emergency room. I made the choice to drive to Van Diest Medical Center. I’m so glad I did. There was a night and day difference in the quality of care our family received.

At Van Diest, the staff went above and beyond during our difficult time. Concerns were handled promptly and comprehensively. While the time it takes to drive to a hospital should always be considered when deciding healthcare needs, the quality of that care most certainly plays a role in healthcare outcomes as well.

I made the right call in choosing Van Diest.

Sarah Small

Fort Dodge