Jody Henson, MD

My mother was admitted to the ER at Scott & White in Georgetown early on a Sunday morning. She had a compressed vertebrae from a fall and had been in that same hospital about a week before. She is a frail women, elderly, and had been living in almost constant pain for that entire week and was beginning to despair, which of course is a serious thing. To make matters worse, she has respiratory issues, and (unbeknownst to us that morning) had developed pneumonia. She could hardly breathe, felt crippled by her pain, and was so deeply despairing in that moment that she was considering just giving up. She hadn't used those words, but she was saying things that helped me know that was in her mind. Dr. Henson came into the room. Of course her medical intervention was flawless, quick, and professional. But one would expect that of a doctor at Scott and White. Every doctor will do those things. But it was her manner that turned this from an ordinary event into an act of ministry and care.… I was a chaplain at one time, so I'm not unfamiliar with doctors and how they interact with patients in an emergency situation. It was immediately apparent that Dr. Henson cared about my mother. She was tender and kind. She explained what she was doing in terms my mother could understand. In some ways, she spoke to my mother in the comforting way you would speak to a child. She did NOT talk down to her, but was clear, compassionate, and kind. Everyone needs a mother's touch at times, and a skilled doctor can bring that energy without talking down to the patient. I could see my mother relaxing and receiving some hope from Dr. Henson, who was calm and reassuring. Because I have a history watching doctors interact, I knew I was watching a masterful handling of a patient in a dangerous and critical moment. My father and I were exhausted from being up with her most of the night, watching her struggle to breathe. It is always a jarring thing for the family, who tries to care so tenderly for their loved ones, to see that family member suddenly placed under the bright lights for the medical staff to poke and probe and invade. It has to happen, but it's always traumatic for the family to let go of their care and trust the hospital. When the physician is able to maintain her objectivity, throw her focus on the problem, but also present in a loving and gentle way, it simply brings healing to the entire family. And it helps prepare them for the greater "invasion" of their loved one's body that will come should they be admitted. Dr. Henson is quite skilled at this. I hope that young doctors who work with her will see this and learn from her. Lastly, I know this review is rather gushing and filled with emotional praise. But that is what this kind of care awakens in people. To seal the authenticity of this review, my name is Gordon Atkinson. I live in San Antonio, Texas.