She was examined and received a prescription with orders to return if her symptoms did not improve.  Unfortunately, Maggie was back in the office just a few days later, assuming her illness had progressed into bronchitis.  Her cough had become extremely disruptive, uncomfortable and caused labored breathing.  Concerned with her decline despite antibiotics and additional symptoms, medical staff recommended she immediately be seen at the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department (ED).  Maggie’s examination indicated pneumonia and the staff stressed the urgency of the situation.  

“I was prepared to receive some fluids and go home, but as I waited, I could feel myself losing energy quickly and came to the realization that my condition was much worse than I had thought,” she explained.  

Maggie praised the Emergency Department staff that cared for her, especially Randy Jones, M.D., Paige Brownlee, Dan Fandrey and Seth Montgomery.  “Everyone was wonderful, very kind and considerate.  
I received such a high level of attention,” she shared.  “I felt like I was the only patient they had that 
day and that means so much.”  

After a chest X-ray, Jamie Rhodes, D.O., confirmed a diagnosis of pneumonia, an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the microscopic air sacs known as alveoli.  Usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, typical signs and symptoms of pneumonia include a varying severity and combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing.  Blood work and several breathing treatments followed before Maggie was admitted.  

She spent six days in the Hospital, was prescribed two antibiotics and received breathing treatments every three hours.  “I experienced positive encounters with everyone – the 5-South staff, radiology, respiratory therapy, culinary services and the chaplains.”  Maggie’s excessive coughing had induced laryngitis, so she was forced to whisper throughout her stay.  “The nurses were so patient with me, readily coming closer so that they could hear what I had to say.”  Since she could not talk audibly, staff also assisted Maggie with her meal orders.

Licking Memorial Pulmonologist Asegid Kebede, M.D., saw Maggie during her stay at LMH.  The Hospitalist prescribed medication to be utilized with a nebulizer – a delivery device that administers medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs.  Nebulizers are commonly used for the treatment of various respiratory diseases or disorders.  

LMH medical staff scheduled a follow-up with Dr. Kebede and suggested she also see her family physician Michael Barth, M.D., upon her release.  During that appointment, Dr. Kebede performed a lung evaluation and follow-up chest X-ray.  He recommended that she contact him immediately at the onset of a cough in the future.

Approximately six weeks after becoming ill, Maggie returned to work.  She is a part-time marketing associate for local State Farm Agent Aaron May.  She also serves as the Granville Township Clerk and is the past Executive Director of the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she remains an active member.  Appointed to the Licking Memorial Hospital Development Council in 2011, Maggie recently volunteered at the annual Golf Gala.

The LMH ED managed 55,991 patient visits in 2016.  The Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for patients who have serious or life-threatening injuries and illnesses.  LMH also operates three urgent care facilities, conveniently located throughout the county, in Pataskala, at One Healthy Place off Broad Street, in Granville, at 14 Westgate Drive off of Route 16 and the newest location, 20 West Locust Street in Downtown Newark.  Wait times in the ED can be lengthy for patients with minor symptoms, since those with the most acute conditions must be seen first.  Patients with minor symptoms may find shorter wait times, as well as lower costs, at one of the Urgent Care facilities.  Please visit the home page of LMH’s website, www.LMHealth.org, to check the approximate number of patients waiting at each facility.