- Sign of the Times
As he grew older, one of George Burns’ favorite shticks was the bit about outliving his doctors. It’s getting so I understand that all too well. I’ve actually only outlived one or two, but I seem to outstay them. Mobility is a big factor these days in doctordom, or so it seems here in the ‘outlying areas.’
The other day I got a call from my ophthalmologist. He is young – about fourteen I would judge – and so I thought I was safe in assuming he would outlive me. Furthermore, his wife is also a medical person and has offices right next door to him. Great! That seemed to complete the formula for stability. Imagine my surprise, then, when I was informed that he was “leaving the area” a few days before my next scheduled appointment.
The voice on the other end of the phone line offered me another appointment, for which I was grateful. I imagine I will learn who will be taking over the practice here or, perhaps, get a recommendation for a replacement doctor. I can only hope that my next ophthalmologist is someone I can understand, can relate to, and isn’t so overwhelmed with patients that I lose my identity to the ubiquitous “chart.” But all that is probably too much to hope for. I’ll just confine my wishful thinking to someone who will stay alive and stick around for awhile.
I think that Ocean Beach Clinic has a revolving door on it and that young doctors come to the Peninsula much the way Dr. Fleischman came to the fictious Cicley, Alaska. For the most part the Peninsula proves to be too quiet for many of those young doctors and their families. But then we are a very mobile society now. Every time a fabulous doc comes to town they head for more metropolitan environs.