After a lifetime in the Washington, D.C. area, in the cold winter of COVID-19, I moved from D.C. to the beach. As so many other teleworkers realized, it was like a magical wish had been granted – don’t just dream of one day retiring to Rehoboth Beach – go now. For all the frustration that technology evoked over the years, darn if it did not become my friend, allowing me to pack my laptop, dial in to client calls, Zoom, sell my home, and head east.

The only real concern I had was the status of healthcare service access and quality in Sussex County if I ever needed help, far from the big city. Well, it was not an easy way to learn, but (true story!) between selling my home, purchasing a new home, making repairs, juggling service people, ordering furniture with greatly delayed supply-chain issues, working, and endlessly unpacking, after a few months, I did not feel great. I was tested for COVID twice in Beebe programs and all results were negative. I did not want to be a crybaby, but I had a worsening cough, dizziness, shortness of breath and dehydration. A week or so later, the chest pain started. Uh-oh.

Not having identified a primary care practitioner here, I spoke to my D.C. doctor, and she said I should get to the ER now. On an early Sunday morning, I stopped my vacuuming and went to Beebe’s Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus. I felt bad going there using precious resources and staff caring for COVID patients, but I was concerned.

I was greeted warmly and directed quickly. Immediately, I was escorted to a room and hooked up to state-of-the-art machines, attended to by cheerful and informative nurses. The emergency department doctor was extremely communicative and relayed test results as discovered, along with her thoughts on next steps and the purpose of each test. She ordered a battery of exams, and each person on the medical team involved was knowledgeable, personable, and skilled, which made me feel safe and in very capable hands.

These professional interactions and personalized attention were all very comforting, not just to me, but to my spouse. The story ends well in that I had no heart issue; instead, I had a bad case of pneumococcal (bacterial) pneumonia. Phew!

I was sent home with specific instructions, so I not only got excellent emergency treatment that day in Lewes, but the follow-up services at the clinic in Millville continued in the same pattern – transparency in communications; smart, well-educated professionals; and clear, timely results.

So, now I know, thanks to Beebe, there is no concern about medical care access, treatment and resources in my new home, Sussex County, Delaware! Over the months I have also witnessed the many ways Beebe is a leader in the community. A society needs a few basic resource pillars to stand up permanently – farms for food, construction for housing, job-producing businesses, schools and other training alternatives, transportation options, art settings, and healthcare.

I have seen Beebe involved not only in greatly developing healthcare for local residents and visitors, but also in ongoing involvement with strategy and joint programming in the other essential pillars. I thank all those who helped me and who also provide care for so many, so often. I went home and joined the 1916 Club to support this amazing institution and the community in which I am now a part, which made me feel even better! Unfortunately, since I did not have a heart attack, I had to finish vacuuming.

As a community-based, not-for-profit healthcare system, Beebe Healthcare depends on the generous support of the community it serves. To make a gift to celebrate the excellent care you or a loved one has received, visit Beebe Medical Foundation at beebemedicalfoundation.org or call 302-644-2900. Want to share your story? Contact Amanda Neal at aneal@beebehealthcare.org.