Blog

Cooking fire victim thankful for Alexander Burn Center at Hillcrest

Lela Choate wanted to make a holiday meal. She never dreamed it would end with her in the hospital.

Just a couple of days before Christmas 2021, the Bartlesville resident was preparing to cook deep-fried ribs for her family when a grease fire started and quickly escalated before burning out of control. The blaze charred portions of Choate’s home, which she had lived in for 25 years, down to the studs.

Fortunately, Choate survived the incident, but she did experience burns on the left side of her head, hands and chest. She was transported by ambulance to the Alexander Burn... Read More »

Getting back on her feet: Stroke patient goes on to win CrossFit competition

Connie Lankford experienced a lingering headache for more than a week back in March 2021. At least that’s all she thought it was.

“I was about to email my doctor about the headache,” said Lankford, who had just returned to her Hubert home from an out-of-state business trip. “I was going to get an appointment.”

Lankford’s headache continued to intensify, so she laid down in hopes the pain would subside. Unable to shake the headache, she called husband, Kenny, to let him know she wasn’t feeling good. But her words were inaudible over the phone.

Lankford’s son, Corbin,... Read More »

Hillcrest Medical Center NICU earns rare acclaim with safe sleep recognition

Hillcrest Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the state to earn top honors on safe sleep from a national organization.

Created by Cribs for Kids, the National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program recognized Hillcrest as a gold level hospital. Hillcrest is the lone site in the Tulsa area and one of just two in Oklahoma to receive this level of accreditation. Cribs by Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a nationally certified safe sleep hospital, Hillcrest... Read More »

Sterile processing team an integral part of patient care at Hillcrest

Quality care requires all facets of Hillcrest Medical Center working together in synergy. And that includes those who care for the instruments used to care for our patients.

Sterile Processing Manager Anthony Adams leads a 23-person department that ensures those devices utilized during medical procedures are clean and ready for use for the next patient.

“We clean the dirty instruments and we put them together, making sure instruments are ready to go,” Adams said. “I love it. It’s exciting. There’... Read More »

McKenzie does not let circumstances keep her from annual mammogram

Janet McKenzie does not have to look far to find inspiration for continuing her mammogram screenings on a regular basis.

Back in 1943, McKenzie’s grandmother, age 43 at the time, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her grandmother had a double mastectomy, a part of a treatment plan that enabled her to live another 48 years.

“We were always aware of that,” said McKenzie, who also had a cousin and great aunt that succumbed to breast cancer. “So, I thought a mammogram was something I can do to take... Read More »

HMC staff helps former service member overcome terrifying moments

Mark Knowlton faced life or death situations as a former active service member, but none were as horrifying as what he encountered when he was recently diagnosed with COVID-19.

The 51-year-old’s condition quickly changed from having a cough and fever to developing pneumonia in both lungs to being intubated and put on an ICU ventilator after being admitted to Hillcrest Medical Center in mid-August.

“Being shot at is scary because you could have died,” Knowlton said. “But not being able to breathe... Read More »

George’s impact “not just within the walls”

Hillcrest Medical Center Director of Pastoral Care, Jacob George, impacted a young Ian Davis during one of the most difficult moments in his life; so much so, that Davis remembered George’s influence when it came time for one of his brightest days.

 

George was there to comfort Davis when the then 21 year old was grieving the death of his baby girl. George helped preside over the funeral. More than 15 years later, Davis, who had since moved to Pennsylvania, was planning to get married in the Tulsa area and wanted George... Read More »

COVID patient, first-time mother makes recovery at Hillcrest: "I came in and was on death's door"

Already saddled with severe COVID-19 symptoms, an Owasso woman thought the upcoming birth of her first child would be more than her body could take.

“I came in and was on death’s door,” said the patient who requested anonymity.

Experiencing pneumonia and asthma, she required 10 liters of oxygen to help her breathe when she was admitted to Hillcrest Medical Center.

“I was losing hope. I had said my goodbyes to my husband. I felt like I was going to die.”

... Read More »