A True Family Doctor - Four Generations

Written by Joyce O'Brien on behalf of Julia O'Brien, LeRoy Kleine and herself.

It is my great honor to share a number of the reasons we are thankful for the care and attention of our family doctor, Dr. Mark Andersen, in Omaha.

Dr. Andersen began treating my folks, Bud and Julia in the early 1990s. Dad had a number of concerns he felt were not being adequately addressed by his providers at the time. Some friends referred my folks to Dr. Andersen. From their first visit, both dad and mom were very favorably impressed by his knowledge, attention and genuine care for both their conditions and them as folks. As time passed many other family members (sister, brother-in-law, nieces, grandnieces) began seeking Dr. Andersen’s compassionate care.

Dr. Andersen’s care at the time of my dad’s passing was a welcome change from the very clinical, sterile attention our family received while dad was hospitalized. His expressions of sincere sympathy reflected his personal sorrow at losing a much cared-for patient. We were all very grateful.

In the years since dad passed, Dr. Anderson gave excellent care to mom, providing abundant attention amid a very heavy patient load and great demand. He genuinely cares about her as a person, asks about concerns beyond those stated as causes for her visit. As thankful as we are for his care of my husband and myself, we are especially thankful that he shows mom great kindness. On each visit he welcomes her like he’s greeting his grandma. He commends her on her constitution for a 97 year old – it is remarkable and we are thankful he recognizes mom’s care of herself.

I came under Dr. Andersen’s care in 2018 after my long-time primary care doctor retired. That was a challenging transition for me personally. Dr. Nelson had cared for me for over 20 years, managing me through several life issues. Dr. Andersen welcomed me into his practice and schooled himself in my history in order to provide the care I needed.

He cared for my husband for many years prior to our meeting. It was my husband’s late wife’s parents who initially encouraged my parents to visit Dr. Andersen way back when, so you see, he’s completed the whole circle with our family – a family doctor in the truest sense; he’s treated four generations of us. When visiting if I mention a family member, he knows of whom I speak.

One of the most impressive encounters was a time he was treating my husband, Lee. Lee mentioned some back issue, questioning if it was related to the accident follow-up care Doctor was providing. Without prompting, Dr. Andersen recalled a much earlier incident for which he’d treated Lee and reviewed his chart before offering his evaluation. Lee had not remembered that prior care. Later, Lee and I remarked that Doctor surely had a vast memory to recall a years-earlier treatment that we’d long since forgotten.

In addition to the care Doctor provides, we must say he expertly selects his support staff. Megan, his medical assistant shows the same level of care as Doctor. They are a great team. Plaudits to both Doctor and Megan.

Our only concern is knowing he’s going to want to enjoy retirement sooner or later. We are hoping for later. We question our ability to find another provider that can treat our medical needs and know us as humans as expertly as Dr. Andersen.

For all these reasons, we confidently commend Dr. Andersen.