I am unable to write or say what I really feel because I am upset at the closing of the pain clinic in Sutter Lakeside Hospital, but I will try.
Dr. Vernetta Johnson is an angel for many of us. She is a great help and support to the people of Lake County to reduce their suffering and improve their quality of life by reducing their pain.
In spring 2007 she was featured in the Sutter Lakeside Hospital magazine in which she explained the proper procedures of pain management. Her main message was there is hope for chronic pain.
She is too important of a figure to be leaving this hospital. She is an icon and the people are very upset. She helps about 2,800 people a year always with a smile and her great personality. I know about 30 of her patients here in Upper Lake.
When I wrote my last letter about the Upper Lake Clinic closing I did not know at the time that the hospital was closing the pain clinic too. I never believed this would happen. It is so very much needed and people come from all over to see Dr. Johnson.
The nurses and the doctor were always so busy. At times it was hard to get an appointment, but if you were in real need they would always find a way to squeeze you in. Even to her discomfort of staying after the time the clinic would normally close.
Vernetta is very dedicated to her patients and helping everyone. She is an anesthesiologist and the director at the pain clinic at the hospital, which will close in June. She is dedicating her life to helping others. Not for money as she proved by traveling to other nations to help out when disaster strikes. Last year she went to Africa to help.
She is a great person and doctor. That is why we were all in shock to hear the ugly news of her discharge from the hospital.
We will miss Luana, Kathy, Leonor, Roger and Sandy; all the staff at this wonderful clinic.
The hospital will lose money not save money by closing the pain clinic down. Her patients had lab tests, x-rays and other procedures all done at the hospital, which generated income.
The hospital mailed out letters telling the community of other pain clinics available, but none are in Lake County. Ever if there were several here in the county I wouldn’t go. She is the only one for me.
I hope the hospital in losing a good doctor does not get a bad reputation. We need the pain clinic. We need more specialists, so more people will come from all over to our hospital. We need a hospital that will take care of all our needs. Too many times we have to go to Ukiah, Santa Rosa or some other city to get the services we need. This is wrong!
This is a nonprofit hospital, so why are they acting greedy.
Lisa Alotta lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
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written by Greg_Cornish, May 12, 2012
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written by ca215, May 09, 2012
Ms Alotta says there is no pain clinic in all of Lake County besides the one the passing of which she laments; did the Clearlake G E T clinic down-a-nearly-Himalayan flight of stairs from the upstairs Regular Patients and Pain Patients close?
DID IT? Gad I would hope so. That G E T (Graded Exercise Therapy), IN MY NO WAY HUMBLE OPINION, has zero effect on many Lake County Pain Patient Program people including myself.
For those who haven't had the benefit (?) of becoming aware of this shell game here is an explanation of what goes on with those who are made to use the G E T.
Miss Perky & Mr Co-Worker to Miss Perky attempt to explain the process to the sent-downstairs patient: Stand on this sensor plate. Look at that big screen there. See the stick figure? Wiggle the fingers of your right hand. See how the figure wiggles the fingers of its' hand?
This system also includes a sort of Air Bowling (similar to Air Guitar playing but involves pretend-rolling a bowling ball away from the former-finger-wiggler) that is touted as being good for pain patients.
Someone PLEASE explain to me how finger-wiggling and Pretend Bowling will help pain?
Oh and on top of the Pain Patient Program Provisions every clinic pain patient must sign onto and agree to, a patient who misses two consecutive appointments with Living Well which is the overseeing agent for the G E T program without a viable reason and with said reason being vouched for by someone of much greater power than the mere patient...will be tossed off the lists of Pain Clinic Patients. Never to return, I presume; I've never found anyone who got bounced and then was re-admitted under Probation to the useless program.
Since the bleep when do wriggling fingers and imitative bowling ease pain? What if a person doesn't know how to bowl? Will the person be taught?? Doubtful...
Also I've said more than once that a signer-on to the pain patient program somehow manages to get along with rules similar to those inflicted on prisoners of war. That's my opinion, I do not insist that anyone agree with me, but my gosh it's also true that I still feel the "Living Well" basement program will do zilch for the person suffering intractable pain due to illness or injury. And: "Keep attending the G E T sessions or be ousted...." that's coercion impure and non-simple.
Last time I checked coercion was still illegal. Thanks a lot, whoever invented the Do what we say or get no help. Especially when the coercive treatment does no good at all.
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