Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

First and foremost do not misunderstand, I truly love the oncology department and hyperbaric oxygen therapy departments in Albert Lea. They are exceptional. But I wonder about the rest of the hospital departments. Going through hyperbaric treatments last summer and fall, I had to have tubes put in my ears for the treatments. Had some bleeding issues during the process. After the hyperbaric department called, I got right in to see the doctor in the ENT dept — no problem. Last Thursday morning, my right ear started bleeding again. Friday a.m. I could not hear. Friday p.m. I went to Express care at Hy-Vee (Mayo Clinic). She prescribed me ear drops. Monday morning ear is still bleeding and cannot hear. Called Mayo ENT in Albert Lea, and the doctor is off all week and if I wanted to try Owatonna or Rochester. If doctors are going back and forth to various facilities, how can someone be seen when needed? Long story short, the earliest I could get in to see the ENT doctor in Albert Lea was sometime in July. Anymore just my personal opinion, the bulk of Mayo Clinic has a lot of explaining to do to their patients in regards to the care they give their patients. Maybe they will wake up — since I hear United Health Care is coming this fall.

Bruce Polacek
Twins Lakes