Jim is impressed with surgeon dedication

When Jim Black of Sterling, Illinois, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, tests showed that the tumor was likely to spread to other areas of his body. He was advised to consider traveling as far away as Florida to get the best treatment, but he chose University of Iowa Health Care.

“It is difficult to decide when you have been told that you have very aggressive cancer and you need to deal with it now,” Jim says. “I chose UI Health Care because of family and friends who spoke highly of the care they received.”

After contacting UI Hospitals & Clinics, Jim was quickly referred to urologist Chad Tracy, MD, who is director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotics, and Kidney Stone Treatment in the UI Department of Urology. Tracy recommended a robotic prostatectomy.

“We discussed the procedure and agreed that he would need to be aggressive,” Jim says. “He scheduled my surgery earlier than normal and then moved it up a week. Needless to say, I was very pleased.”

‘They took care of everything’

After surgery, Jim learned just how dedicated Tracy was to handling his treatment expertly, from start to finish.

“I was told that he asked another surgeon with expertise with bladder and lymph nodes to scrub in with him to ensure that I got the best outcome,” Jim says. “Dr. Tracy has been cautious with my prognosis and has been straightforward with me about possible outcomes. I appreciate that.”

But it wasn’t only the medical care he received that left Jim so impressed. He noticed that same level of dedication to his case from the first day he called to make an appointment.

“I simply contacted UI Health Care, and they took care of everything,” Jim says. “All appointments were set up. I was told where to park, what elevator to take, and who to meet with. On the day of surgery, when I was taken to prep, my wife and pastor were allowed to be with me.”

24/7 care, no matter where you are

Even in the difficult days after surgery at home, Jim was comforted by the way UI Health Care urology providers helped him manage his recovery.

“I called the hospital two nights in a row at 2 in the morning and talked with a doctor on the urology team familiar with my case,” he says. “The advice I was given was helpful. At no time did I feel abandoned, even though I was two hours away.”