What's right with our Healthcare System.

I spent last Thursday in the ER of a Gainesville hospital.

I'm okay. Don't panic. And please don't call to check on me because I don't have the energy to talk on the phone. I'm taking a couple of antibiotics and some painkillers and I'll be right as rain in a few days.

But what I want to say is this: For an emergency room, I was pleasantly surprised.

The charge nurse, Joey, was nice. All three times he had to start an IV, and the two times he drew blood, he was competent, cheerful, and efficient. My day nurse, Melissa, was an absolute doll. She must have gotten me five pitchers of water, and never complained when I asked her to split my pain meds or anti-nausea meds into smaller IV doses. She checked on me regularly. She answered all our questions. And the attending physician, a jolly fatherly type, was wonderful about trying to find out what was wrong and figuring out how to fix it.

I haven't gotten the bill yet, but I'm sure it will be astronomical. That will suck. But on Thursday, when I was in so much pain, it was worth it to have good people who worked hard to make me feel better. So props to you, medical professionals, for making the ER less traumatic.