From Caregiver to Cared For

Bob Chapman understands caring for a loved one when their health is declining. He was the caregiver for his wife for nearly a decade. She was a patient of Utica Park Clinic physician Dr. Clark Tingleaf, whom they were first introduced to in their hometown of Claremore. When Dr. Tingleaf moved his clinic to Owasso on the campus of Bailey Medical Center, the Chapman’s maintained her care under Dr. Tingleaf. “What a great man,” Bob adds. “I’ve had experience at Bailey Medical Center for about eight years. I would always recommend Bailey.”

Bob says of the countless nights he spent in the hospital at his wife’s bedside, the staff at Bailey made both of them feel comfortable despite the circumstances. “They always treat you like family,” he adds. “They greet you with a smile. They are polite and sympathetic. They don’t make it an unpleasant experience.”

Caring for his wife took its toll on Bob. June 2, 2013 he suffered a heart attack a day after his wife was hospitalized once again. Her health was failing, but now Bob had to also take care of himself. Within a few days of his heart attack, Bob lost his wife. “She passed away almost three years ago,” he says. “As my health went bad, I told my children that I wanted to go to Bailey Medical Center.”

A patient of Oklahoma Heart Institute cardiologist Dr. Frank Gaffney, Bob schedules appointments for his follow-up care on the campus of Bailey Medical Center. “That’s another great plus for me,” Bob shares. “I see him and then I go eat. Their cafeteria is so good. I’ve gone to Bailey sometimes for no other reason than to eat.”

He recently needed to schedule a follow-up stress test and was admittedly concerned. “I was a little worried,” he says. “The minute Melody came out to get me in the waiting room, I relaxed. Melody and Patty, my other nurse, made an otherwise unpleasant procedure very easy to deal with. Bailey can be proud to have such wonderful caring nurses and staff!”