The Foundation C.A.R.E.s

By Madison Burke

Shirley Brown had been in pain for a year when she was recommended to visit orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Holt, MD. What started as a dull hip pain had progressed to at times excruciating pain. 

“I was really scared when I went to see Dr. Holt. I had a lot of pain and didn’t know if anything could be done about it,” Shirley says.

Dr. Holt ordered an X-ray and discovered Shirley was in need of a total hip replacement. 

“He said I was ‘bone on bone,’” Shirley says. 

Shirley says she was nervous arriving at the hospital for the procedure, but Dr. Holt, his P.A. Ray and the Boone Hospital Center nurses were very reassuring and walked her through every step.  

“The staff was so kind and calmed my fears to the point where I was looking forward to the rest of my stay,” says Shirley. 

The procedure was successful, but on the first night following the surgery, Shirley found herself having a hard time sleeping because of the pain. That’s when a nurse turned on the hospital’s Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment, or C.A.R.E, Channel on her TV.

The C.A.R.E. Channel features relaxing music and beautiful scenery to comfort patients who are recovering in the hospital.

“The second that channel was on, I was so enthralled by the beautiful music and scenery that my pain didn’t seem quite as bad anymore,” Shirley says. 

Shirley found herself watching the C.A.R.E Channel for most of the remainder of her stay. She loved it so much she asked her daughter and nurse to find out who was in charge of providing it. That’s when Boone Hospital Foundation executive director Barb Danuser paid her a visit. 

“I told Shirley that the Foundation is so happy to provide the channel to patients just like her who could use a distraction from their pain. The channel’s purpose is to ease anxiety, stress and help patients deal with any discomfort,” Danuser says.

The Foundation pays more than $2,400 a year to provide the C.A.R.E channel to patients. The programing helps mask hospital noises and provides a good distraction to anything stressful that may be going on during a patient’s stay.

“The Foundation’s mission is to provide exceptional health care in our community. This channel is just one way the Foundation helps Boone Hospital go above and beyond in patient care,” Barb says. 

Shirley says finding the C.A.R.E. channel, the successful surgery and the kind staff were all an “answer to prayer.”