Patient Thanks CCH for Listening

Charlie (Chuck) Ruiz doesn’t take anything for granted, especially his health.

The owner of the Deluxe Harley-Davidson store in Gillette, Wyoming was gravely ill a year ago. So ill, in fact, that he wasn’t expected to survive an air ambulance trip from Billings to Gillette.

The tube that helped him breath was removed as soon as he got to Gillette, at Chuck’s request, but he spent many days in the Intensive Care Unit at Campbell County Memorial Hospital.

“I’m a talker, and I talked to the nurses a lot when I finally could,” said Chuck.

Chuck has used many services at Campbell County Health (CCH) over the course of the last year besides the ICU, including the Emergency Department, Radiology, Lab and Campbell County Medical Group’s Nephrology and Complex Medicine clinic where he met with Dr. Robert Neuwirth.

“It was important to Chuck that we respected his wishes,” said Dr. Robert Neuwirth. “We were able to work with him and his family and support how he wanted to live his life. It’s worked out well for him.”

In addition to his nephrology practice as a kidney specialist, Dr. Neuwirth also heads up the hospitalist program, and saw Chuck often over the course of his hospital stay.

For those who don’t know, a hospitalist sees most patients while they are in the hospital, making decisions about their care and treatment. Most hospitals in the United States have hospitalist programs now. These physicians are usually specialists in Internal Medicine or Pediatrics and work in the hospital at all times, providing continuity of care and quick access to patients if their condition changes.

Chuck recently came back to CCH for a different reason.

“I came to visit with the CEO to say thank you,” said Chuck. “There were so many people that were so kind to me. I thanked him for my life.”

We want to thank you Chuck, for putting your trust in us. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to care for our community.

What is a Hospitalist?

Hospitalists see most patients while they are in the hospital, making decisions about their care and treatment. Most hospitals in the United States have hospitalist programs now. These physicians are usually specialists in Internal Medicine or Pediatrics and work in the hospital at all times, providing continuity of care and quick access to patients if their condition changes. The patient’s primary physician receives information about their hospital stay for follow-up care after discharge.

The CCH Hospitalist Team
Adult Hospitalists

• Judy Boyle, MD
• Steven Clements, MD
• Suzanne Harris, MD
• Robert Neuwirth, MD
• Sunil Rao, MD
• Vashu Thakur, MD

Pediatric Hospitalists

• Judy Boyle, MD
• Kiran Koduri, MD
• Anne Moore, MD
• Tracy Wasserburger, NP

Update: February 23, 2017

CCH is sad to hear about the passing of Chuck Ruiz, owner of the Deluxe Harley-Davidson and long-time member of our community. Chuck shared this story of the care he received from CCH in January, and thanked his providers for respecting his wishes on how he wanted to live his life. We send our heart-felt condolences to his family and friends.