New Lacey ER proves value of local emergency care
On Dec. 5, 2023, Jeff Cook stood at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new MultiCare neighborhood emergency room (ER) in Lacey and marveled.
Ten exam rooms, an in-house lab, on-site radiology services and around-the-clock staffing. Such excellent care was now available in his new neighborhood.
Little did Cook know that in four short weeks he would be back to visit again. This time as a patient.
A rich MultiCare history
Cook’s connection to MultiCare started with his wife Becky Walsh, who graduated from the Tacoma General Hospital School of Nursing (supported by MultiCare Health Foundation) in 1969. For years, they attended the annual alumnae luncheon and donated to the scholarship fund.
After more than four decades as a critical care nurse, Walsh retired and the couple established The Becky Walsh and Jeff Cook Endowment for Nursing Excellence. The fund will help MultiCare nurses pursue education and develop critical skills on the job now and into the future, thanks to their legacy gift.
“We love nurses,” Cook explains. “They’re the backbone of health care.
Most recently, the couple moved to a Lacey retirement community right as MultiCare acquired Olympia-based Capital Medical Center. Cook and Walsh have been taking the time to learn more about the health system’s footprint in the Puget Sound region through tours at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital and MultiCare Capital Medical Center.
“We’ve been impressed with the places we’ve toured,” he shares.
Emergency care close to home
In the early morning hours of Jan. 2, 2024, Cook woke to discomfort on his right side. While his wife slept, he slowly walked around the house until the pain grew too much to bear. Cook finally roused her at 5am in need of immediate emergency care.
Upon arrival at MultiCare Emergency – Lacey less than a mile from their home, Cook was promptly admitted, had his vitals checked, received a CT scan, met William Hurley, MD, and was diagnosed with a kidney stone in his right ureter.
“They had everything,” he says of the Lacey ER. “All the staff, Dr. Hurley. Everything was there that one could need.”
Cook received medications for his pain and nausea, along with a few prescriptions. He was discharged later that morning, and the kidney stone successfully passed. While Cook’s visit was short, it left a lasting impression.
“We expected to get good care,” he explains. “But it was just an exceptional experience. I think we’re really blessed to have that facility there.”
Lasting importance of local care
Cook’s emergency visit has given him a new perspective on MultiCare’s mission of partnering for healing and a healthy future.
“One thing I liked was we got to have the MultiCare experience, since we’d never done that before,” he explains. “And it turned out we were at the place we had the ribbon cutting. That was like icing on the cake. We saw what it was like, and then we saw it in action.”
With this newfound appreciation of expert care close to home, Cook and Walsh are inspired to continue investing in their community’s health.
“We appreciate the good that MultiCare is doing for communities across Washington, and we want to support them in their efforts,” Cook shares.
