Tobey Hospital: A Hidden Gem in Local Healthcare

At nearly 80 years old, Dr. William Popik, thought he’d seen it all. A longtime healthcare executive and former Chief Medical Officer at Aetna Health, Bill had spent much of his career evaluating hospitals.

Like many in the South Coast area, he often heard, “If you’re sick, go to Boston. All you hear is that if something serious happens, pack up and head north,” Bill said with a laugh. “But when you work in healthcare, you also know big teaching hospitals might not be the best place for straightforward problems that can be handled locally. You can get lost in the system.”

As a summer resident in Marion, MA, Bill had never needed a physician in the area but knew what the local opinion was. Then one evening in mid-June, stricken with severe abdominal pain, Bill knew he needed help. His wife drove him to the nearest hospital – and logos or affiliations were the furthest thing from his mind. Bill found himself at Tobey Hospital in Wareham, MA.

“I just knew I needed care,” Bill recalled.

Once he arrived at Tobey Hospital, he quickly felt he was in capable hands. Michele Grossman was the ED doctor attending that evening, and Bill was impressed with the care he received. She evaluated him and admitted him into the care of Jorge Huaco Cateriano MD, MPH, MBA, FACS.

“I met Dr. Huaco, and he came in with a clear plan – and given my background, it was only natural that I ask a few questions.” Bill remarked. “He was superbly trained and had a range of experience that gave me confidence.

The tentative diagnosis was a possible bowel obstruction likely linked to a surgery he’d had decades ago. They agreed on a conservative treatment plan which, if successful, would eliminate the need for surgery.  “One sign of a good surgeon is that he tries not to operate on you whenever possible.” 

Over the course of a few days, Bill’s symptoms did not improve, and they moved to Plan B: laparoscopic surgery.  Bill said he felt better almost immediately.

“Postoperatively, the nurses at Tobey were terrific. Attentive, professional and kind. I could tell that they knew what they were doing.  Every shift they updated the whiteboard in my room with their names and what the plan was. I always felt in the loop.  That kind of communication really matters.”

Now back to splitting time between Massachusetts and North Carolina, Bill said he remains an advocate for Tobey Hospital. “I think a lot of people in the area still don’t realize the quality of care available right here in Wareham,” he said. “Tobey is a hidden gem. As a physician, and as a patient, I recommend Tobey without hesitation. What they do, they do very well.”