Lake County News | California

I frequently read or hear down in the Bay Area that Lake County is a third rate, sloppy place. They are fools.

An old friend who admires the beauty up here would like to move up, but based on what she has read, fears losing effective health care if she comes here. She has been misled.

Last week we went down to the San Jose for a few days where I caught a bug in my lungs that was so awful that I thought I was going to stop breathing before I got home.  

My doctor, Dr. Parsons, who runs a great office In Kelseyville, gave my chest one touch with his stethoscope and shagged me off to emergency at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport.  

At the emergency window, I was given only time to state my name and problem, and was immediately going through some triage process.  

Within minutes I was trussed up in bed in the Intensive Care Unit somewhat like in a scene from the movie, “Warhorse” with lights flashing and bells bonging.

I was there for three days. Obviously I survived; in fact I now feel great.

At first, I was somewhat unnerved by donning a backwards gown which doesn’t always hide all your parts. Later I realized that those professional nurses view the private parts of an old man like me with about the same excitement that a mechanic views an engine block.

I was thoroughly impressed by the excellent treatment I received. Doctors, like those who treated me, Dr. Petrorius and Dr. Oliver, come there from all over the state.  

But I was especially impressed by the nurses, Cheryl Shaffer, Tami Renfro-Meyers and Carol Bise who run the ICU. My room was straight across from the nurses’ station and I was able to observe their performance continually.

They work very long hours in stressful conditions but respond to sudden needs with alertness, kindness and professionalism. I left there feeling they were hard-working, kindly angels.

As for the opinion of those fool writers in the Bay Area, I’m happy with our medical care in Lake County – especially if they’ll keep their horrible bugs home with them.

Randy Ridgel lives in Kelseyville, Calif.

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R Ridgel
written by ca215, June 12, 2012

One can only presume Mr Ridgel has insurance other than or along with MediCare/MediCal.

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The Underclass and
written by tcod, June 12, 2012

the Tweakers love it too.

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Move along then!!
written by sharky, June 11, 2012

I'm growing a little tired of people who live in Clearlake, put the city down. What are you doing to make things better if it's sooooo bad here? Why are you living in a place you don't like? No one's making you stay here! Move along if your not happy with the place your living in or do something to make it better.

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My son was born.....
written by Rex, June 10, 2012

...at SHCL on 1/**/11. We were s'posed to have a homebirth, but after a long labor, decided to go 'in'. I have to say, I went with some skepticism....but was pleasantly surprised at every turn by kindness & professionalism I've rarely encountered anywhere.

A birth with as few drugs as possible, like that of our son, demands patience and attention, which we received in scads from our good Dr., our midwife,& the Staff at SHCL (especially, of course, the Maternity Nurses...). And then, with all that good support around us, my Son was born. Amazing. And right here in Clearlake. Don't be so quick to write us off.

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Hey Randy
written by Greg_Cornish, June 10, 2012

Glad things worked out for you. You're a strong ole horse

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On the other hand,
written by Dusty_in_Clearlake, June 10, 2012

We do still have St. Helena Clearlake, whose ER is still appallingly bad. Yes, they are working on it- but it's taking forever! There have been times, back when it was called Deadbud, where despite medical emergency- we've chosen to go to Sutter Lakeside instead. "Damn the pain, I want to live!" was the battle cry.

Our reputation as a "third rate, sloppy place" is earned entirely by the deeply corrupt "City of Clearlake"- making Detroit seem downright civilized and cosmopolitan!

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