I was recently treated at Memorial Hixson for a case of pneumonia and sepsis. I was very ill. The first nurse I saw on arrival was Ed Temple. He checked all my meds and got the IVs started. He was extremely thorough and I was impressed with how quickly he set everything up and assessed my condition. He then talked with me in some detail, explaining that I should not try to get up without assistance and, that I was being given a strong blood thinner and it was critical that I not fall or otherwise do anything that could cause bleeding. He went over how I was going to be treated and what medicines I was to receive and what they were for. He was very upbeat and positive and assured me they had everything under control and I would soon be free of the illness. His attitude and sincere explanation put me at ease and I can truthfully say I never doubted I was in the right place.

He was professional and knowledgeable and displayed every trait I could imagine indicative of a well-trained healthcare professional. However, the other attribute Ed displayed was a sincere, positive relationship with the others working (in whatever capacity) in the unit. And his coworkers seemed to respect him and enjoy working with him. Another more intangible thing I observed was how he seemed to anticipate your needs before you asked for anything. When he first checked on me in the morning, he showed up with a cup of coffee for me and my wife. That small gesture was golden! He brought a blanket when he noticed I was a little chilled. A bag of ice for our drink cups.

I believe Ed has a great deal of empathy for his patients and truly lives by the Golden Rule. Ed is a treasure for Hixson Memorial. Employees of his ilk are the heart and soul of any organization. Please thank him for me for being a really great guy!