All of you know that Nick Jacobs' hospital is a Planetree facility - here are a few letters from patients who've experienced it. Does anyone else have a string quartet in residence at their hospital? wow...

as always, please send your patient letters/stories to tony[at]hospitalimpact[dot] org. if you missed last's weeks edition, click here. Why am I collecting your great patient stories? For the sake of better hospitals.

This String Quartet played for a dying patient's family in our Palliative Care unit. They (the string players) were in residence with us for an entire summer.

"Your playing is so beautiful, it made me cry. My Dad is in Heaven now, and he played the violin so sweetly, like you guys. I just wanted you to know that my Dad is playing with you and thanks so much for letting me hear your beautiful music that I've missed so much. I just wish I could sit and listen all day to you and DAD. Thanks, Kris

(here's proof that folks do look up quality statistics, or at least, they hear about it)

Dear Mr. Jacobs,

I am writing to you to tell you how grateful and happy both my husband and I are with Windber Medical Center. My husband is in the critical care unit now with an infection after open heart surgery at X* Hospital. It's three weeks post surgery and he refused to go back to that hospital because there is no comparison between the care there and here. There's also no comparison between their infection rate and yours. I know for a fact that there are so many people who would rather be here at Windber Hospital. The care is so great here and I know most of our health problems can be taken care of just fine here. So, each day I thank God and you and your people for everything that you do. This hospital is a very special place and we love it.

Thank you,

Nancy H.