Page 391 of Steamy Ever After

It’s one of the warmest welcomes I’ve ever received.

Things are different here.

The people are different.

Warmer.

Happier.

They roll out the welcome mat, not because they have to, but because it’s what they do.

Peace Springs is different.

It’s home.

“Sara, I thought maybe you could sit with Abby and show her what you do. I need to catch up on my charting. Maybe we can head to Eddie’s for lunch?”

“That sounds wonderful.” Sara drags a chair around to her desk and pats the seat. “Come here, let me show you everything you need to know.”

“I think that’s going to take a very long time.”

Sara’s eyes shimmer as my uncle excuses himself. The moment we’re alone, she looks at me. “That man is a saint, but he needs to stop coming to work.”

“I’m not sure I can stop him, but maybe the best way to do that is to get me up and running as soon as possible. He said he has patients this afternoon. I was hoping he’d let me see some of them.”

“Oh, that’s great. Let me suggest it after lunch. You know how men are. Pete is a trooper, but he doesn’t know how to let go.” She settles down in her plush office chair and pats the seat beside her. “Let’s start with our EMR.”

For the next hour, Sara shows me everything I need to know about the electronic medical record system Uncle Pete and the rest of the staff use to chart their patient encounters.

Proficient in that aspect of the job, it doesn’t take long before I feel comfortable with the EMR they use.

“Best part of it is that it’s the same software they use in St. Vincent’s in Billings. Which means all the consults, referrals, and inpatient medical stays are available to you.”

Sara shows me how to access those records as well. One of the benefits of EMRs is they can be shared with other physicians and medical practices.

“There’s a lot more to show you.” Sara glances at her watch. “But if we’re going to make it back before your first patient, we should get a move on.”

“I’ll grab my uncle.” I replace the chair back against the wall, then head next door.

“Uncle Pete? Are you ready for lunch?”

He sits behind his massive desk and looks up from the computer screen. The blue glow from the monitor makes his skin look even more pale than usual.

“Ah yes.” He glances at his screen and exits out of the EMR.

He wobbles a bit when he stands. I hold back rushing to help him, weighing the pros and cons of treating him like an invalid.

Sara joins us, glancing over my shoulder as my uncle slowly crosses the room.

“Sara, did you happen to ask Pamela and Craig to join us?”

“I did not, but let me see if they’re finished with their last patients.”

While Sara goes to check, I bend my elbow and silently offer it to him for support. Without a word, my uncle takes the assist.

“Pamela and Craig? I don’t remember them.” My previous visit was short, and I’m horrible with names.

“Pamela Seagars and Craig Moran are your family medicine nurse practitioners. You’re really going to enjoy working with them.” He leans on me more than I expect, but that’s okay.

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