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Dear Editor:
I feel as if Upland Hills is "my" hospital, in one respect it has been a second home For ten years I came everyday to visit my mother in the nursing home, where we also celebrated our family Christmas and finally Mother's funeral. I took Paul Morass' first yoga class and was hooked for life. I walk the corridors in inclement weather for exercise and enjoy the specialist's treatments for myself and lived ones, just recently I welcomed my great grandson in one of the beautiful birthing rooms. -It was so wonderful not to have to need trot to Madison for appointments. Presently I am enjoying the challenges of Coronary rehab,and, I am surprised as well, to learn how good the food is-tasty, as well as nutritious. Often lunch makes medical routine a treat.
For months now I've observed the construction challenges around me as I moved around the building. I was excited to see how much better it would be for the patients. I was on time for the tour at 11:00.
The greeters placed a plastic ley of flowers around my neck as if we were visiting tourists. In fact we even received a 6" plastic model of a cruise ship as well as a boarding pass and an admonition to "Travel with us on our (your) health care voyage. " The informative brochure indicated that the project included upgraded and expanded surgical spaces, better birthing suites, and generally more flexibility and efficiency. In vain I searched for information about sustainability and community health. I knew that the maintenance department had made strides in these areas, but there was no indication that this was part of the recent initiative or tour.
Since I was tired of waiting in line for 45 minutes, and I wasn't especially interested in a cruise experience when I needed surgery-I left before the tour finally began. At home I googled gundersonenvision.org to see how other medical facilities compared with ours. I was excited to learn that Gunderson's new clinic in Sparta is energy independent; it depends on solar and geothermal heat and requires no gas or fossil fuel, thus its emissions and pollutants have dropped significantly. Further information indicated that Gunderson Health has saved $11 million since 2008 through its energy upgrades.
After the successful launch of this hospital upgrade to "my" hospital, I feel sure it won't be long before we hear Upland Hills Health will be launching another initiative-one that will save energy costs and limit pollution in our community. I disposed of the ley, boat, and "passport" with the rest of my recyclables.
With high hopes for a healthier world,
Anne D. Bachner, Dodgeville