Service with a smile

Jessie and Veola Wright

Jessie Wright, 73, and Veola, his wife of 49 years, have been Park Nicollet patients longer than they can remember, first at Park Nicollet Clinic—Minneapolis, now at Park Nicollet Clinic—Brookdale.

After 22 years as a welder at Tennant Co., Jessie retired from his day job in 1996, a healthy man. Outgoing Veola, 69, retired a year earlier from working nights at Market BBQ. Since then, he has been treated for colon cancer; she has had a triple bypass.

He also has acid reflux, making it hard to keep food down. That’s why he has visited Methodist Hospital the past three years for endoscopy treatments to dilate his esophagus, narrowed by scar tissue. He always appreciates being warmly greeted by everyone, including Peggy, the receptionist. These days, he also notices small, but appreciated, changes in service, the result of considerable back-office improvements.

Jessie with Peggy, Park Nicollet Clinic—St. Louis Park receptionist

Simply streamlining

Now, one nurse completes his medical history, takes his blood pressure and preps him for the procedure. In the past, three nurses each finished one step, then handed him off to the next. The prep time also takes 15 fewer minutes. By using lean production techniques, Park Nicollet is trimming waste and improving patient care and service in Endoscopy and systemwide for patients like Jessie.

“We have received all sorts of services – physicals, education – through the years from Doctor Martens,” their primary care doctor, Veola says. “He and Dr. Logan [their gastroenterologist] are good doctors.”

To stay healthy, Jessie, a deacon at Greater Mount Vernon church, says he doesn’t eat all that well, but walks practically every day. “I don’t keep to any set time or distance, but always walk several blocks early in the morning,” he says. Veola, who also walks, usually turns down Jessie’s invite to walk with him. She’s a night person, you see, and 11 a.m. is early enough for her.

Jessie met Veola in Monroe, La., where they grew up. She thought Jessie was a “nice, cool person – cute, handsome.” He liked her right off, too. He lived on a farm further away, so, “He spent lots of dimes calling me long distance,” she says, both chuckling.

Crappies to cars

They came to Minnesota when Jessie was 27, on a friend’s recommendation. It was April, and snow was on the ground.

“I surely wanted to go right back home,” Jessie says with a smile. But, he found work here that he wanted to do – welding. Later, several others in his family settled here, too, though he still has a couple of sisters and a brother in Louisiana and a sister in California. 

When Veola asks, “Why don’t you call them?,” he replies with a good-natured grin, “Don’t need to, they always call me,” eyes sparkling.

While his past love was catching small fish, like crappies, these days he prefers taking a spin with his wife in “Bessie,” his tenderly cared for, blue and white, 1963 Buick Electra 225. “I think he loves that car more than me,” Veola jokes.

We are sad to report that Jessie died in April of 2004 of natural causes.