MAYOR BUNCH WRITES

‘Pay no attention to the

man behind the curtain.’
BY ERNIE BUNCH
This line from the Wizard of Oz
could not be better information
for the times we are living in than
anything I can personally think
of. It is a time of strife, conflict,
disinformation, misdirection and
outright lies.
There are copious opinions
based on the above and our
society is not in a healthy position.
MAYOR To vaccinate or not to
Town of Cave Creek vaccinate, that is the question.
In Washington, we have one
480.488.1400 side pushing legislation they’re
www.cavecreek.org
calling the “For The People Act.”
Part of it has to do with who exactly is allowed to vote and
when. This country has made tremendous strides in voting
rights over the years. There was a time when polls were
Cave Creek’s First Hospital
open only on Election Day and ballots had to be cast in
person. You had to prove who you were and your eligibility.
Some states even had tests to see if one was informed
is Now Open
Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital held a ribbon cutting ceremony July 15 with hospital officials, community members and first responders attending.
enough about the country to even be allowed to vote.
Serving the Community Since 2002

Today, we have early voting, mail in ballots, special days
for those who can’t do any of the other methods.
I for one certainly don’t believe it is too much to ask to
show identification.
With all of the advertising and money spent on
elections it is turning out to be not unlike the voting
for high school prom queen and king.  offers surgical and ER
Campaign promises? Mailers and 30 second
advertising spots promising anything and everything that
I hope the candidate knows is not possible or in many
cases even legal!
Then, on a societal level, everyone appears to be a
victim and things must be made “right.”
People need to take responsibility for their own
actions and decisions and look inward before they blame
everyone else.
I’m going to step down from my soapbox now and hope
everyone stays safe during this month of normally highest
monsoon activity. Don’t venture into running water in the
washes and just think about what is going on around you.
20
8.21
Pictured, L-R: Naman Mahajan, CEO Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital and Abrazo Scottsdale Campus; Cave Creek Mayor Ernie Bunch, Wendi Sears, chief
nursing officer, Abrazo Cave Creek and Abrazo Scottsdale; Sarah Bird, administrator, Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital; and Dr. Sara Beckett, medical
director, Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital.
Neighborhood hospital
services and more
Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital, the first hospital in the
Town of Cave Creek, opened Monday, July 26, at 7am. At
approximately 35,000 square feet, the facility is smaller
in scale than a typical general hospital, but still offers
surgical services, a full emergency department with 13
beds, eight inpatient rooms, ultrasound, x-ray and CT
scan, laboratory, pharmacy and other services.
The single-story neighborhood hospital will provide
medical care beyond what’s available at an urgent
care or freestanding emergency center, according to
administrative director Sarah Bird, RN.
“Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is in an ideal location “As an Emergency Medicine physician, it is an honor
for ease of access and was planned with an emphasis on to be involved with this new hospital. The Town of Cave
quality medical care and efficiency,” said Bird. “We are Creek and its residents will surely benefit from having
able to provide a higher level of care than an urgent care medical care nearby. Minutes matter in an emergency,
and shorter ER wait times. Our general surgery capability and our Emergency Department will accommodate all
means if you come to the ER with gall bladder symptoms ages. We will strive to keep ER wait times short, and to
or appendicitis, for example, you won’t need to be provide safe, high quality care. It’s about providing the
transferred elsewhere. We will have 24/7 emergency and right care in the right place,” said Dr. Beckett.
general surgery coverage.” “Many of our leaders and team members have
The diversity of the Cave Creek community means dedicated a significant part of the last year making Cave
the hospital is prepared to serve patients of all ages. Creek a reality,” said Naman Mahajan, CEO of Abrazo
“We’ve been developing strong relationships with Cave Creek Hospital and Abrazo Scottsdael Campus.
local EMS providers and will be proud to serve the “I could not be prouder of the team who over the course
community side-by-side with our EMS crews,” said Bird. of the last month has worked diligently around the clock
“Patients with abdominal pain,  sprains and broken to ensure a successful opening.”
bones, lacerations, pneumonia and flu are typical of the Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is located near the
types of conditions we expect to see in the emergency intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road
department,” noted Dr. Sarah Beckett, medical director at 5227 E. Carefree Highway. For additional information,
of Emergency Services at Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital.  visit www.abrazohealth.com.