I’m 45. It was time. Colonoscopy. (Not exactly a bucket list item.)
But what could’ve been a stressful, awkward experience ended up being one of the best examples of what great healthcare looks and feels like.
From the first phone call to walking out the door, the team at Baptist Health System Surgery Center Eastpoint delivered more than care. They delivered connection.
✅ Faye at check-in made me feel seen and cared for.
✅ Mary—30+ years in nursing—set the tone with heart and confidence.
✅ The surgical staff brought transparency and humor.
As they wheeled me back, I waved to the nurses’ station and they waved back. I asked the nurse pushing my bed what it was really like working there. She said she loved it. And I knew she was telling me the truth the moment I entered the operating room. The energy was friendly and light-hearted. You could feel that these people liked each other. They weren’t just coworkers. They were a team. And that put me at ease. I knew I was in good hands.
I had a few moments to banter with the surgical team. One nurse threw on a blue poncho-looking thing and I asked, “Wait, what exactly are you expecting to happen?” I then joked with the anesthesiologist not to give me too much propofol. I’m trying to come back. As I felt it kick in, I shouted, “I believe in you. Do good work!” The next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery.
The entire experience exceeded every expectation. My care started before I ever even walked in the door that day. This team of people are not just healing people. They are restoring trust in what great healthcare can be. Bravo to Dr. Harrison Daniel and the team at Baptist Health Surgery Center Eastpoint.
This is what great care feels like.
TRUST TAKEAWAY
Your Presence is a Promise.
It’s a promise to be someone others can count on—to bring safety, honesty, and steadiness into the room. That’s what every staff member at Baptist Health did for me. Their transparency removed any fear of the unknown. I didn’t have to second guess what was coming next. I just knew they had my back. And we all have the power to be that kind of presence with the people we care about.
YOUR TRUST CHALLENGE
Say One Thing That Makes Someone Feel Safe
Try one of these phrases this week and watch how it shifts the moment:
- “You’re not alone in this.”
- “I’m really glad you’re here.”
- “You’re not crazy for feeling the way you feel.”
Trust is built in micro moments, and it’s often the smallest words that carry the biggest weight.
And if you’re a man over 45, take this as your nudge. Schedule your colonoscopy.
“I’m glad you’re here, and I want you around as long as possible.”
WATCH JUSTIN: KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON TRUST
Justin Patton is a trust keynote speaker, leadership coach, and founder of The Trust Architect Group. Through his trademark motto Trust Starts Here™, Justin helps leaders build trust in themselves, with others, and across their culture — so they keep people coming back for more. Learn more at www.justinpatton.com.
