I'm writing this about Dr. Taylor, because we have had quite a lot of interaction with him, and his staff, over the three months from November 4, 2017, through January 2018. My husband's 90 year old mother fell on the evening of Nov.3, and was taken to Alta Bates. About midday on the 4th, the hospital determined that she had a broken left femur and right humerus - 2 fairly serious bones in a person that old. Dr. Taylor was called in, and by about 8 in the evening, had performed the surgeries to repair and stabilize both bones. We met him after the 2nd surgery, in the hospital lobby. Although he had certainly had a busy and tiring "work day", he was generous with his time, showing us the X-rays, answering all our questions about the injuries and prognosis, and even explaining the science behind titanium being the best choice for metal rods when bones need reinforcing.
We immediately felt complete confidence in Dr. Taylor's skills, as well as his obvious compassion, and a true enthusiasm for his chosen profession. During the 5 days my mother-in-law was a patient at Alta Bates, he continued to conscientiously monitor her progress. She can't have been an easy patient for anyone at the hospital to deal with, since in my own observation, as a daily visitor, she did a lot of complaining and arguing with all the staff, much of it based on post-anesthesia mental confusion and inaccurate memories. But Dr. Taylor never has wavered in his determination to bring about the best possible healing result, given his patient's resistance to medical treatment, and fairly advanced osteoporosis.
My husband and I also both had occasion to visit Dr. Taylor's private office in company with my mother-in-law (first, to have the cast replaced with a brace; second, to have the brace removed). On each occasion, Dr. Taylor and all his staff who were present, were extremely patient and caring. After the examination and technical reason for the visits were over, Dr. Taylor was always willing to take time to answer all our questions about the medical issues, to our full satisfaction.
This has been a particularly challenging situation for all concerned, since my mother-in-law is a devout member of the Christ.Science Church, and never would have chosen hospitalization or any kind of medical intervention, if she had had a choice in the matter. However, passers-by saw her fall and called an ambulance, the ambulance was required to take her to the hospital, and in the absence of an Advance Health Care Directive, the hospital was legally bound to provide the treatment deemed essential to insure her wellbeing and stability. But again I want to give Dr. Taylor all my admiration, for his respectful attitude towards a set of spiritual beliefs which I myself find extremely hard to either understand, or have much patience with.
Dr. Taylor managed to do such an excellent job with his surgery, setting and stabilizing of the two bones, that within about 8 weeks my mother-in-law was having very increased mobility in the broken arm, and beginning to walk with the broken leg. Now, at a little under 3 months, she is able to hold things and do a little lifting with the injured arm, and is walking faster and faster down the whole length of corridors at the Christ.Sci. nursing facility where she has been living since mid-November. In reply to our query about "timeline of healing" when we first met him, he told us that for someone of this age and condition, 3 to 6 months was usual. We feel that all credit is due to Dr. Taylor's exceptional skill as a surgeon, that his patient has made such good progress, in a scant 3 months.
I can say unequivocally, that if either myself or my husband should ever have any of our own bones come to need surgery and healing, Dr. Taylor would be our first choice, without a moment's hesitation. read more