Same for 50-year-old Jane McCuish of Manchester who was too busy running “100 miles an hour” to anticipate a triple bypass.

Then Richard noticed chest pain during exertion. And Jane’s flu-like symptoms lasted for more than a month. When both were diagnosed with advanced heart disease, they had big decisions to make: where to go for their cardiac care?

I’m pleased to say that they chose Harrison Medical Center — and proud to report we were ready for them.

We added open-heart surgery to our cardiovascular services in 2003. It was a $2 million investment in highly sophisticated equipment and training, plus the addition of a five-member surgical team from UW Medicine’s Regional Heart Center, our collaborator in this life-saving program.

By the time Richard and Jane needed treatment, we had performed more than 225 bypass and valve replacement procedures, and our program was ranked among the top in the state.

Today, Richard and Jane credit Harrison for saving their lives. They cite the excellence of our UW-affiliated program, our personal and compassionate care, and last, but hardly least, our location. They actually say it better than we can.

Richard: “People on this side of the Sound who think they have to go to Seattle for excellent cardiopulmonary care are mistaken.”

Jane: “I didn’t have to go to Seattle to get great care. It’s a pain to be hospitalized in Seattle — nobody comes to visit you!”

Over the next few months, you’ll be hearing more from Richard, Jane and others whose positive experiences at Harrison’s heart, orthopedics, cancer, and women’s programs — moved them to volunteer for our new, “I choose Harrison” campaign. You’ll be seeing their faces and hearing their stories — told in their own words — on bus boards, on TV, and in magazine and newspaper ads.

Advertising in such a bold way is new, and, well, radical for Harrison Medical Center. There are two compelling reasons behind it.

One is research. A regional survey told us that a high percentage of West Sound residents would not know where to turn if they required hospital services. They underestimate our capabilities because we haven’t told them what we can do and how well we can do it.

The other is quality care. Our new heart program is ranked among the best of 19 such programs in the state. Our emergency room door-to-treatment time for heart attacks is among the fastest in the nation. And the vast majority of patients treated within the past two years at Harrison say they were satisfied or extremely satisfied.

Research confirmed what we already knew — that residents of Kitsap, Mason and Jefferson counties want quality healthcare, delivered in a personal way, close to home. Richard, and Jane, and other satisfied patients have found that kind of care at Harrison Medical Center.

We thank them for sharing their very personal stories and invite you to join us in celebrating their good health.