The Right Choice for Rebecca
“ The number of complicated , rare cases is increasing alongside the population growth ,” he says . “ This means we must continue to attract the best and brightest specialists to Scott & White , as well as acquire the most advanced technology to ensure patients receive the very best care .”
A Network of Care to Meet Central Texas Needs
Anchored by the main hospital campus that offers primary , specialty and tertiary care in Temple , a comprehensive network of primary and specialty care locations throughout Central Texas helps Scott & White serve a growing population . It also brings unsurpassed care closer to more people ’ s homes .
In Temple , the new Scott & White Memorial Hospital , a Level I Trauma Center , opened in 2007 and was built for a capacity of 74,000 emergency visits per year — double the capacity of the old unit . It was not expected to reach that number for many years — yet surpassed it in just 18 months .
Robert Pryor , MD , chief medical officer and chief operating officer at Scott & White Healthcare , points to the planned Endocrinology and Diabetes Program at the
Five years ago Rebecca Perryman learned that she had inherited more from her grandfather than her stubborn streak . She was diagnosed with a hereditary disease that affects the filtering tissues in the kidney .
“ We were in South Dakota on our way home from a vacation . I couldn ’ t breathe , so my husband took me to the emergency room ,” Ms . Perryman says . “ The blood tests showed that I had kidney failure .” She elected to return home and seek treatment at Scott & White , where she was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome and told that she would need dialysis . She soon began treatments at the Watson Wise Dialysis Center at
Scott & White , driving three times a week from her home in Purmela .
“ Purmela is just a little spot on Highway 84 , an hour and a half drive from Temple . If you blink , you ’ ll miss it ,” says Ms . Perryman . For three years , she made that trip every Monday , Wednesday and Friday , rising at 4 a . m . for a full day of driving and treatments . All told , she spent 15 hours a week commuting to her 12 hours of dialysis . It was exhausting .
“ They offered me a home dialysis option , but it was a big machine , and we would have had to install a water filtration system in our home , and we just couldn ’ t afford it ,” says Ms . Perryman .
Three years ago , however ,
With the home dialysis unit , Ms . Perryman completes shorter treatments five days a week in her own living room , with help from her husband .
Scott & White introduced a new home dialysis machine . “ They came up with this gadget that is the size of a portable TV . All it needs is electricity , and you can even travel with it ,” she says . Ms . Perryman , her husband and their daughter had to be trained on the equipment five days a week for almost a month at the Watson Wise Dialysis Center .
With the home dialysis unit , Ms . Perryman completes shorter treatments five days a week in her own living room , with help from her husband . Without a commute , she says she has far more time and energy for family , and has even gone back to work as a substitute teacher .
Winter 09 THE CATALYST 9