I5 mP
Is Your
Doctor
Abreast of
Science?
By E. VINCENT ASKEY, M.D.
President, American Medical Association
with Alfred Balk
Each year, medical schools offer doctors more (han 2,000 "refresher" courses in every field.
Whatever the dote on his diploma, your physician's
bag should contain medicine's latest weapons
N
Or.
E. Vincenl Askey
tot long ago in a small
Midwestern town, a
baby was seriously ill, vom
iting with such uncontrol
lable frequency that its life
" clearly was in danger.
Remarkable progress has
been made in recent years
in diagnosing the causes
of such ailments. But the
child's doctor was years out
of medical school and miles
from a research center whore such advances usu
ally originate. Would he be familiar with the latest
discoveries, which could mean life or death for
this small child?
Medical research moves rapidly it has pro
gressed more in this century, than in all previous
ones combined. Yet of what benefit are medical
discoveries to you unless your doctor knows of
them and how they might help you?
In the case of the baby, the doctor had kept
abreast of progress. A few weeks earlier, he had
heard a tape-recorded report on adrenal insuffi
ciency of the newborn. He quickly made the diag
nosis and treated the baby as detailed in the lec
ture. Today the child is alive and healthy.
Is your doctor as closely abreast of science? If
a member of your family suffers a type of heart
failure caused by potassium deficiency, for ex
ample, will he know it is unaffected by digitalis
but readily responds to a teaspoon' of potassium?
And as medical research continues to advance, can
he keep abreast, ever able to provide the most up-to-date
medical care, though his diploma is dated
years earlier?
To fulfill his obligations to himself and others,
every doctor must keep up with science. How the
typical doctor manages to do so, no matter where
he lives and practices, is in my opinion one of the
great untold behind-the-scenes dramas in medi
cine today.
Here are four ways your doctor keeps up:
1. New comiiitiiiirations aid. With at least 50
or 60 hours a week devoted to seeing patients, time
is precious. But new techniques make "in-between"
periods count significantly.
Several years ago, for instance, a consultant to
the Los Angeles Medical Society had an idea: why
not tape-record summaries of lectures and medi
cal articles for busy doctors? Now, doctors obtain
tapes they can play while eating, shaving, or driv
ing to and from calls.
America's first color telecast was for doctors:
an operation. Last year in one series alone, 125,000
doctors in 50 cities heard talks and saw demonstra
tions of new medical techniques and another
100.000 saw them on film.
In New Yoik, Albany Medical College regularly
beams noon-hour lectures to doctors in 21 hospi
tals in two states via an FM hookup that permits
listeners to ask questions. Other cities have similar
sessions. Their value has been incalculable.
2. Data "on his doorstep," Some 1,000 medi
cal journals discuss every important medical de
velopment, and every doctor receives several such
publications. He also has access to the finest medi
cal films, for which the American Medical Asso
ciation alone arranges 5,000 showings a year. And
he can borrow "package libraries" on any disease
from medical schools or the AMA.
In several states, circuit teams now visit small
town and rural doctors, personally bringing the
latest research discoveries. When an important
new drug is ready, pharmaceutical houses quickly
send vital data about it to the most remote areas.
3, "Kefresltcr" programs. Periodic medical
conventions, from the two major AMA meetings
annually to state or county conferences, actually
are important "cram" courses. More importantly,
perhaps, nearly 2,000 formal "postgraduate"
courses are offered by medical schools each year.
Ranging in length from a few hours to a year, they
provide the most up-to-date, personally supervised
training in virtually any field in which your doctor
might feel the need to brush up.
In Boiling Spring, N.C., for example, four physi
cians in group practice have arranged it so one
takes a 12-month "study" leave every seventh
year. Doctors affiliated with a hospital in Belmond,
Iowa, arrange to send at least one representative
to every important medical meeting, and he in
turn briefs the others on his return.
I. Medical "teamwork.' Because no one per
son could master the mass of medical knowledge
available, the new concept of the medical "team"
is all-important. Today, no matter where you live,
your doctor consults with other physicians; refers
you to a specialist if specialized knowledge is re
quired; phones leading research centers.
He uses every new emergency tool available.
For example, he can phone any of 200 "Poison In
formation Centers" and immediately determine the
antidote necessary in cases of accidental poisoning.
What does all this mean to you? If a researcher
has discovered something in his laboratory which
may save your life, you won't be denied the bene
fit of it through your doctor's not knowing of it
in time. As medical science moves forward, so does
your doctor. Thus, he can continue to offer you
the finest medical care ever known.
COVER:
Photographer Richard Heimatm focuses
on Lucille Ball, who's all set for Easter in
a picture hat of shiny black, rough strati)
with a unique ripple brim. For more on
holiday hats and Lucy, turn to page lb'.
WaeJcIy
March 26, 1961
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