I haven't blogged in my chronicles in a while because I try to put down something that the reader might find relevant. Since retirement, I have had my share of old patients, friends and even strangers ask me what should I do about this or that condition. Mostly, it's "I have this complaint and what do you think it is". Most often, I tell them they should seek out a doctor that deals with that particular problem. That withstanding, I'm
at the point of exasperation on the advice and care people are getting.
Now granted, I finished training 50 plus years ago and kept current in the years before retirement but it
borders on criminal negligence the advice and care people receive now!
When I graduated medical school specialization in medicine had just begun to be popularized. It had become evident that medicine had become to vast for any one to master it solely, so the specialties and sub-specialties became the norm post graduate training. Unfortunately, common medical knowledge is being lost.or not taught.
I have always believed you are a doctor first and specialist second. For example, just because you are a skin specialist you should know that an irregular pulse is abnormal or if an OB/GYN yellow skin means possible jaundice.
Now here is recent event that I think proves my point. I was asked by a casual acquaintance why her heart seemed to be racing all the time and that she felt dizzy and faint. I asked was she seeing any doctor or on any medication she said she didn't have a doctor and usually went to the emergency room for care. So I said well what you have could be serious and you need have someone check out your heart. The next time I saw her I asked did she find out what was wrong......her reply was she was sent to see a heart specialist and she related her problem and was told to return in 3 weeks. I asked did they do an EKG, she said that the doctor
never even took her pulse or listen to her heart.Was that because she had no insurance?...... if so THAT'S CRIMINAL!
Medical education has changed. There is little clinical exposure to patients anymore. Students now examine manikins or surrogates that are hired to imitate clinical problems. Yes, technology has taken medicine to new heights but nothing can replace the hands of a knowledgeable physician examining you!
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...or his capable and caring nurse'
Hello: I came across your blog while talking with my father, Omar Stratton, OBGYN, about his time at Homer G. Phillips in 1954. He mentioned the names Smiley and Sinkler, so I did a search and there you were. You may or may not have overlapped - my father was only there one year, when the chief OBGYN resident was named Dickerson. At any rate, we enjoyed reading your entries and thank you for posting them.
All the best,
Robin and Omar Stratton
Thank you!
Somehow the system advised me of this forum, probably because of the reference to Camp Rivercliff, formerly five miles from Bourbon, MO. Many a camper of that era would remember MY father, Mr. George J. "The Fox" Elliott, Jr. "The Fox" was a lifelong "Y" stalwart, whose youthful life was crucially guided by Rev. Cook. When "The Fox," a superb and versatile athlete and "Y"/Riverciff veteran (and parishoner at Antioch,) flunked out of Stowe Teacher's College, St. Louis, Rev. Cook drove him directly up to Lincoln U., Jefferson City, MO, and got the A.D. to admit him on scholarship. Three years later,"Fox" graduated with nine (9) varsity athletic letters (3 years times all 3 varsity sports Lincoln offered,)and my mother, a gorgeous AKA. (Himself, like his 1st cousin Kenneth B.Billups) and now me, all KAPPA men.I finished Hampton, and Howard Law. No one who was around Rev.Cook, could be unaffected by him. No camper could could fail to perceive that he was by nature a giant among men. His like is sorely missed."The Fox," like his mentor spent his life in "The Y," becoming a Board Member of the YMCA of the World.
Nice Post. Thanks for sharing such useful information.
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