As he entered the Skagit Regional Health - Smokey Point Urgent Care clinic for the first time, Stanwood resident Gustavo Ramos prepared himself for the worst. He knew what he’d experienced at another walk-in urgent care clinic in the area. He also knew his pain was so bad that he was not able to walk. He prepared himself for another disappointing experience, but what he didn’t expect was to be proven wrong this time.

Finding new hope

He approached the front desk to check in and he was already pleasantly surprised—the front desk employees were polite and treated him with respect. They answered all of his questions and he found his seat in the waiting room.

It was one positive interaction, but those lingering feelings remained and he felt he needed to prepare himself for the worst.

“I felt lonely, with anxiety and worries of how I was going to take care of my family,” said Gustavo.

Just a few minutes after checking in, he was surprised to hear he was being called back to the exam room.

Diagnosis and referral

The urgent care provider greeted him in the exam room and his journey to wellness continued.

“She took her time to explain what was going on with me,” said Gustavo. “Then after the CT scan and treating my pain, we found a left inguinal hernia that was making my life super uncomfortable.”

Gustavo was then referred to James Barger, DO, FACS, FACOS, general surgeon at Skagit Regional Health - Arlington Specialty Clinic. Gustavo would soon learn the next step of his journey at Skagit Regional Health would prove to be consistent with his first—compassionate people, diligent process and exceptional care.

“After my urgent care visit, before I even made it home, I received the call from Dr. Barger’s office,” said Gustavo. “They set up an appointment for me the very next day due to the severity of my condition.”

Gustavo felt hope that he could get through this.

Surgery consultation

During the surgical consultation, Dr. Barger reviewed Gustavo’s physical as well as mental symptoms.

“We discussed what his symptoms were, how often they occur and the limitations his hernia was causing,” said Dr. Barger. "It became clear that his was not only very uncomfortable, but was limiting his ability to perform his physically demanding job. Letting patients express what they are going through with their medical condition allows for a more complete understanding of their experience and how it is affecting them,” said Dr. Barger. “It goes back to basics—being a good listener and really making an effort to understand what patients are going through. Then we can make the most informed decision possible, together as doctor and patient.”

“My anxiety and worries started to go away,” said Gustavo. He felt like he mattered to those caring for him and that he could trust them to help resolve his condition. He felt he could trust his healthcare provider again—something that Dr. Barger is passionate about ensuring for his patients.

Precision in surgical care

“In order for him to return to a safe and productive life we needed to fix this hernia,” said Dr. Barger. “Fitting him in quickly was paramount and we were able to schedule time on the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System to get this done.”

Robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci® Xi™ provides significant benefits for patients like Gustavo, allowing for greater precision, minimal invasiveness and reduced recovery time.

Gustavo had a successful surgery. Along with his condition, his hope for receiving quality healthcare has also improved. He remarked that every step of the way, there was someone there for him.

Recovery and beyond

Gustavo was able to get back to his daily life, without pain and with a new perspective on healthcare.

“My care team was still treating me with such love and kindness, making sure I had everything I needed,” said Gustavo. “Dr. Barger kept in touch with me until the end of my recovery. It’s finally healthcare like it should be—you won’t feel like a number here.”

“I’m so glad we were able to improve Gustavo’s quality of life,” said Dr. Barger. “His case is a great example of why we do what we do.”

Community access to specialized surgeons/surgical care

With a wide variety of specialties and procedures, expert surgeons and advanced, robotic-assisted medical technology to improve outcomes, our patients receive precision surgical care—with the added benefit of staying close to home.