Sandy Forrest supports Schuyler Hospital and its Schuyler Health Foundation as a volunteer and donor because having a hospital close to her Watkins Glen home is important to her. Last spring, those years of support helped her when she urgently needed it.
Sandy was on her morning walk with a friend, when the friend noticed something was wrong with Sandy.
“She took me by the hand and said, ‘We’re going to the hospital,’ and she took me to the emergency room at Schuyler,” Sandy recalls.
Sandy has a history of atrial fibrillation, a serious condition involving an irregular and often rapid heartbeat that can increase the risk of strokes, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. At Schuyler Hospital’s emergency room, physicians quickly diagnosed her condition and contacted Malcolm Brand, MD, Director of Cardiac Devices at the Cayuga Heart Institute at Cayuga Medical Center. He wanted to see Sandy immediately.
Tests showed Sandy’s heart had recovered from the atrial fibrillation episode. Additional cardiac evaluations showed the fibrillation episode had not damaged her heart, and she could take medications to treat the condition.
“They were very reassuring at Cayuga and Schuyler. I was very well taken care of, and they all work together. That’s a good feeling. When you go in like that, you don’t know how things will turn out,” she recalls.
When she could leave CMC’s advanced cardiac care, she wanted to return to Schuyler Hospital for cardiac rehabilitation and a full recovery. Both hospitals are part of Cayuga Health, and they worked to make Sandy’s transfer seamless and coordinated her care at Schuyler Hospital’s Specialty Clinic. When she ultimately needed a small surgical procedure, Sandy returned to CMC where her continuity of care moved forward with her same hometown physician.
The network of care and cardiac programs Sandy needed had benefitted from the years she spent serving on the Schuyler Hospital Foundation board and helping the Schuyler Auxiliary raise money to fund hospital projects.
“I’ve always felt it was important to support the local hospital. If you don’t, it will not be there when you need it,” Sandy says.
When she needed care, Schuyler Hospital and CMC were there to help her.
what our patients are saying
“The staff and accommodations at Cayuga Birthplace are amazing!!! This is what it I imagine it would feel like to be a celebrity getting VIP treatment. I wish I could stay longer – even the food options are 5 Star! The amenities are great. Everything is clean and designed beautifully. Not a single complaint, only praises!”
“I have had many occasions visiting CMC for myself and family. We have never had a bad experience there at all. Last October I had surgery and the nurses were amazing especially my night nurse. Thank you to all CMC staff for doing what you do every day with a smile.”
“I have to say the last couple visits that I’ve had here have been wonderful. About a month ago I had an EGD and the staff were amazing! Explained everything in detail and made me feel at ease. I was very nervous and the nurse I had was very comforting. Tonight we had to take my son to the emergency room and they were awesome with him! We got right in. “
“I have been a Hemo dialysis patient for almost Five years. Prior to dialysis and during dialysis I have had several trips to the ER, due to other health issues & was admitted to CMC more than a few times. Each and every time I’ve been there, whether in patient or out, I have been treated with respect, professionalism, and efficiency. I give this hospital 2 thumbs up!! Thank you CMC for taking care of me all these years!!”
