Page 7 - Whidbey Health The Pulse e-magazine

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Patient Easing a Nurse’s Pain

Perspectives Peggy Sullivan has been living with breast

cancer and the side effects
from treatment since 2013.

These Docs Made My Year! This former hospice
nurse of more than 20
years was surprised
Mention WhidbeyHealth Women’s Care when she realized that
provider Dr. James Giem and Traci she wasn’t the best
Bergsma gets excited. advocate for her own
pain management.
“I love Dr. Giem! He’s a wonderful
doctor,” Bergsma says. “When I met Carla Jolley,
ARNP, a palliative care nurse practitioner at
The Freeland resident had had a WhidbeyHealth, I was hesitant to trust anyone,
medically challenging year and when but was quickly converted,” says Sullivan.
she met Dr. Giem in February 2016, she
was quite anxious about her health. “Carla listened deeply and reflected back to me
some of my fears that I thought were hidden.
“He gave me his full attention from the beginning,” Bergsma We nurses are not an easy bunch to care for. We
says, “And he had me go right in for an ultrasound, when are used to being in control, but Carla gently
another doctor didn’t want to pursue it.” persisted, and won my trust.”

Giem found that Bergsma would need surgery and was referred After giving up control of her pain management,
to WhidbeyHealth general surgeon Dr. John Hassapis. Sullivan trusted Jolley to modify her medication

“I’ve never had a better experience. Dr. Giem has a very good plan.
bedside manner and even called me personally to check up on “My pain is better controlled now and I am so
me. I’ve never had a doctor do that before.” grateful,” Sullivan added.

Bergsma was impressed, too, with Hassapis, whom she said “I also have an excellent oncologist in Dr. Wendy
took the time to explain everything very well to her. She was Wang, who works in collaboration with the
also thrilled with the nurses, especially Anna the charge nurse. Palliative Care team. I am impressed that each

“It was a really rough year and they all made it really easy and of these providers sees the other as a skilled
comfortable for me. They listened when other doctors wouldn’t.” practitioner, whose work assists both of them, as
~Traci Bergsma, Freeland well as me,” says Sullivan.
I am convinced that having the connected care
between both these specialties is allowing me to
receive five-star, quality care.”
~ Margaret Sullivan, Langley

To Learn More About Services

Whidbeyhealth surgical Care Whidbeyhealth Women’s Care Whidbeyhealth Palliative Care
John hassapis, MD James giem, MD Carla Jolley Mn, ArnP,
360.678.6799 360.678.0831 360.914.5634