NNMC Provides Local Pastor Quick Relief From Pain
Around midnight on August 14, the Rev. Don Butler, Sr. had a painful, rude awakening. Butler, who has been the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Black Springs in Reno for more than 28 years, began experiencing mild abdominal pain. The pain continued worsening, eventually becoming unbearable. Around 4:30 a.m., he decided to seek emergency care.
“I’ve always had a very high tolerance for pain,” says Butler. “I’ve had a broken leg, three knee surgeries, a broken back, back surgery, emergency appendix surgery and shoulder surgery. But none of these can begin to compare to the pain that I experienced that night.”
Too Long of a Wait at Other Hospital
Butler drove to a local emergency department and told the receptionist he was in excruciating pain. She gave him a stack of papers to fill out. After he showed her his insurance cards, the receptionist asked him to wait. Another 40 minutes went by. Butler told the receptionist that the pain was getting worse. Again, she said he would have to wait. He decided to go somewhere else.
NNMC’s Prompt, Compassionate Care
Butler remembered hearing about NNMC’s 15-minute guarantee — that patients will be seen by a nurse within 15 minutes or their Emergency Department visit will be free.* He drove himself there. When he told the NNMC Emergency Department receptionist about his pain, she immediately called someone, and staff began examining him right away. The doctor gave him pain medication and ordered an ultrasound, which showed that a kidney stone was to blame. The doctor told Butler that he would likely pass the stone. He sent him home with more pain medicine, and Butler passed the stone soon afterward.
“The Emergency Department staff treated me like a VIP,” says Butler. “Through all my injuries and surgeries, I’ve never been treated with such kindness and respect.” Since that night, Butler has told his congregation, family and friends about his positive experience at NNMC. “I have been recommending, and will continue to recommend, NNMC to everyone,” he says.
Learn more about emergency services at NNMC.