One Patient’s Story
Kevin Howard has high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. He does well to manage these conditions and he openly attributes his success to the quality of the relationship he has established with the staff and volunteers at North by Northeast. He has experienced health care in a variety of environments from large hospital to his local community clinic.
When Kevin first walked into North by Northeast, he remembers how impressed he was by the personal attention each patient received and by how positive the attitude of the staff was. “It was almost like you were young and you had hurt yourself and you go to your grandma’s and she rubs you on the back. It feels like home coming in here. I don’t feel like I’m a number. The doctor spends more than five minutes with me. When I come in here, my doctor gives me a hug and asks how I’m doing and she really wants to know. She cares. It’s personal for me and that’s why I love this place.” He goes on further to talk about how this kind of experience has affected his health. “Having this personal relationship with this clinic, I make sure I take my medication on time. They’ll call me from time to time to ask me how I’m doing and to make sure that I’m on my medications. That kind of stuff really makes a difference. When someone personally puts some interest in you, your tendency is to want to do better. People will heal themselves if you give them that kind of personal care. Being taken care of by someone who truly has your best interest at heart is all anyone could ask for. That’s worth more than gold.”
Kevin admits that he still has some work to do. He’s been trying to quit smoking for years. He admits that the clinic is doing their part and their cheerleading encourages him. “ They want to make sure that I’m getting the support I need to be healthy. They’ll bend over backwards, stay up late at night or miss a meal to make sure that their patients are getting the care they need. It matters to me that my doctors have a good heart. They are not only quality physicians, they are quality people.”