You don’t have to wait very long in conversation with Ruth H. Innes, MD, to understand her passion for family medicine.
As the hospitalist director at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital, Dr. Innes is board-certified in both family medicine as well as hospice and palliative medicine.
For the native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the decision to become a physician was an easy one.
“I was intrigued by the idea of helping others feel better and understanding their conditions,” Dr. Innes explains. “By developing relationships with patients and their families, I am able to do this.”
She continues, “it is all about having perspective on how illness and hospitalization can impact the patient as a whole as well as their loved ones.”
The aspect of family became a guiding principle for Dr. Innes. And today, 19 years after starting to practice medicine, she is most rewarded by helping patients and their families find peace in the understanding of their health, whether good or bad, and seeing plans come together for their continued care and treatment.
Dr. Innes is also motivated by one more thing – her team. As the long days of the COVID-19 pandemic wore on, Dr. Innes found that during extreme stress, sorrow and strife, there was something very positive happening.
“I saw colleagues rise to the occasion and go above and beyond to help those who initially we had no clear understanding of how yet to help,” she shares. “We were all scared when this started, as of course no one had seen anything like this in our lifetimes.”
Nonetheless, as time went on, she says resilience, toughness and dedication are the terms that come to mind.
“I think about how our team and others dug in, gowned up and took care of every patient we could, to the best of everyone’s abilities. We celebrated at times, with tears, when we were able to help patients live through this pandemic.”
Dr. Innes adds, “it rejuvenates the soul to reflect on, as anyone could easily have said, ‘I just can’t do this anymore.’ We have one another to vent to and commiserate with. That built the collegiality that encourages us to move forward and keep the faith that things will get better.”
Help us celebrate National Doctors’ Day by sharing a heartfelt message of appreciation for your Bon Secours provider! Please visit bonsecours.com/doctorsday before March 30 to submit your message of thanks.
