When I came to Park City in 2004, I asked what residents did in the event of a medical emergency. I was told there was a local clinic that would stabilize patients and then transport them to Salt Lake City if necessary. Although I wasn’t living here full time then, I wanted to know what resources were available just in case. Eventually, I heard plans were underway to build a community hospital with an emergency department, labor and delivery services, orthopedics and the capability to perform some surgeries. Thankfully, for many years I never needed anything more than routine medical care. In fact, I only had one minor medical emergency, which the staff handled quickly and professionally. That changed last Tuesday night. After dinner, I began experiencing severe stomach pain that would not subside. I took an Uber to the emergency department. To make a long story short, I underwent several tests, received medication, and was eventually sent home. A few hours later, however, the pain became unbearable and I returned to the emergency room. The physician who treated me, Dr. “Wing” Province, was calm, thoughtful and thorough. He explained that despite the tests already performed, he could not identify the obvious source of the pain and recommended an ultrasound. He also discussed the possibility that a surgeon, Dr. Mark Wilkinson, might need to become involved depending on what they found. About an hour later, Dr. Province returned with the answer. I had a severe infection in my gallbladder that had progressed to sepsis, and it needed to be removed immediately. I asked if I could simply go home and return the next day for surgery. His response was firm and immediate. At that point, I was relieved that someone had finally identified the source of the problem and that treatment could begin. While waiting to be admitted and prepared for surgery, I had some time on my hands, so I did what many of us do these days. I googled Dr. Province. It wasn’t as though I had time to seek a second opinion, but I was curious about the doctor who had just made a potentially lifesaving diagnosis. What I discovered impressed me. After graduating from the Indiana University School of Medicine, he attended Harvard Business School and later completed his residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Those are remarkable credentials for any physician. I later found out that this low-key physician is also the chief medical officer at the hospital.  More importantly, in my case, his decision to order the ultrasound uncovered a serious gallbladder infection that could have become life-threatening if left untreated. During my recovery, I did a little more research and came to an even greater realization. While Park City Hospital may be considered a community hospital, many of its physicians, surgeons, nurses and staff members possess credentials and experience that rival those found at major medical centers across the country. Like many residents, these professionals have chosen Park City because of the quality of life our community offers. We are fortunate that they have also chosen to bring their expertise here. My experience reminded me just how lucky we are to have access to such exceptional medical care close to home. Michael Sommer Jeremy Ranch The post Saved by doctor appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less