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Show Barge City News OCTOBER 7, 1994 ANSWERS (continued from page 1) were not putting the public in peril. We were taking the necessary steps to protect patients. Dr. Spaulding is an excellent practitioner. Part of his problem is that he expects more from himself than we would expect of him.” Jerry Mayer: "Hind sight is 20/20. We didn't know it was going to be on the front page of The Tribune. He is a good doctor; probably the best Milford is going to get. If I needed a doctor, | would go to him, or 1 would take any of my family to him." ae a Larry Barnes: "I don't know that we have. to inform the public of every little thing. should The ones who have Known, knew about it. The people who hired him were aware, and they were supportive. The board and the administration were both dealing with the situation.. As a member of the human community, I see people having problems, and coping with them, all of the time. He is a good doctor, and deserves a chance to get better. It didn't even enter my mind that we were withholding anything." Tammy Pearson: "I, myself, felt that it should have been public, but the majority ruled at the time. | thought it would have been easier for everyone if we brought it all .out. in the open. It is kind of like putting the minutes in the paper. If they don't have the facts, people tend to take gossip and add to it; facts stand . by — themselves. Although 1 had mixed emotions, I figured that the more we explained, the better it would be in the long run. | went along with the board and didn't even tell my in-laws. I think the world of Dr. Spaulding. Good people can fall into bad habits, and it is just something he has to deal. with personally. I know that, ‘PAGE 2 he put his whole heart and themselves soul into his work, and what We have had a hell of a hard has happened just breaks my heart. in our shoes. time getting doctors. There are so many ~ roads that we, as a board, could have taken on this. This doctor has excellent skills. We just can't afford to loose him." Hind sight is 100 per cent.” ~Craig Davie: "Yes, the — people have a right to know. In a small community like this most every body knows these things from the coffee shop talk. We didn't try to hide anything. I do remember that he told us he had surrendered his license to practice in Idaho. There is a clause in his contract referring to possible drug few people knew about it. 1 Certainly, all of the medical Spaulding _ said. The doctor's professional future is somewhat — uncertain following a September 14 substance abuse hearing. "There announcement. an It is my community “knew, and | assumed that they talked to family and friends. The problem was being have run Options for monitored." into," that if we loose this doctor, we are in a hard place to recovering, or, in the worst —_ practice complicated a few days. could be handled privately. When the hearing was over it could be discussed if need be. I feel a great deal of support for him." Randie Rose: "T didn't feel * that we needed to inform the public until after the . hearing. Yes, there are people who are upset because we didn't publish it, but they have to put Dr. he hesitated Spaulding to said make a public statement because, "1. Ifthe legal requirement is being met, everybody ~ should have a chance to start over. 2. You might recently with Dr. Spaulding, years people of every educational, religious, and socio economic status," he said. The silver lining to this cloud may well be. that patients, who have hesitated to discuss substance abuse problems, will be more open skills ° of of had was the Dr. Obstetric Spaulding. With the surgical skills of Dr. Spaulding and with the surgical assisting skills of Mary Wiseman, general performed at your hospital. hospital even better,” said. . HOSPITAL HAS ITS comes different skills, we: are fortunate with having BEST Dr. Spaulding here, and that MONTH FOR surgery, as well as many surgical procedures With,every new practitioner he has brought many new skills well was was puts past. to the Milford : community. Many not so obvious things are also being accomplished to services develop the month's activity at Milford hospital's organization. A Valley Memorial Hospital. mission statement for the hospital was formulated. Short and long term goals along with a new motto and logo was set. Organizational charts were The Hospital had its best business month ever. Patient revenues in August reached - because that This They are eager to make the To coin a_ known statement, "It the best of times, it the. worst of times” into perspective this a disease - not a moral weakness - which affects since happened. performed under _ local anesthesia, are again being By John Gledhill ‘community deals poorly _- with substance abuse. “It is 1.8 the Milford hospital as an "8" on the way to becoming a "10". "The staff is well-trained. , amazingly ‘BUSINESS EVER > to Dr. medical of - many new ‘services have been added. Not too long ago a story ran in the Dodge City the he not have been willing to get to know me." According Spaulding, the the future, doctor would like to gain certification in Endoscopy. Use of the fiber-optic scope. could aid in diagnosis and minor procedures. Dr. Spaulding rates while budget before the end of the year. - _ News of two babies being in _ the hospital nursery at the "Our hospital is. set up. to same time. It had been two handle all but the most For find another one. It (being a board member) is a lot more expected." "He Gladys Whittaker: had a right to privacy. 1 didn't think it was necessary to broadcast it. If people asked me, I told them. If I had a problem, I wouldn't appreciate them __ telling about it. It was the consensus of everyone | talked to that things like this that isn't the complicated births," he said. case scenario, pulling his license. The decision should be announced within I promote a Some AA to think step above 10 babies, with 5 more due probation which would allow the doctor to continue his operating Sections. In his practice at Milford Valley Memorial Hospital, he has. delivered the niedical ” licensing board include doing nothing at all, setting operated in the black for quite some time. With an annual ‘He delivered 165 babies, ~ five of which were C- Dr. Arlan Mayer: "We did what we thought was right | at the time. It might have been best to get it all out in the open. My thinking was than ~ million dollars, a combination of 80 full or part time employees and a monthly payroll of $82,961, your hospital is possibly the second largest employer in Milford Valley and probably. influences the economy of the valley more than any other entity. : The "boom" to the hospital has come about for many reasons. Foremost is the trust the community members have placed in their practitioners. With Mary Wiseman, who seems to have "always" been there when needed and more past six months, this may be the first time the hospital has case here. The acceptance of human frailty is helpful," he said. Dr. Spaulding believes that continuing training is essential for all members of the medical community. During June, he worked with the obstetric residents at Holy Cross Hospital in an effort to enhance his OB/GYN skills. Dr. Spaulding understanding that quite a Malchus: was no need to make tox, there is nothing Milford. the druggies; "The fact that the community knows | have warts and they still want me is more encouragement for staying sober than anything Arlene continues as it has for the doesn't have to full recovery. groups tend alcoholics are a problems. He issa very capable doctor, and we need his skills and talents." and comfortable about asking for help. The doctor is locally involved in a_ 12-step program with an active group of other recovering people. "After the initial de- $192,627 § an increase of $69,627 or 36% higher than of August 1993. Overall, if the hospital and improve (continued on page 9) |
