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Gloria Park, |
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| KAREN: So how did that work using the manual? Was that successful, your first training manual? DR. PARK: Yeah. We used it in our service unit, you know, for bringing in and doing training. The Bethel service unit developed their own manual, using our manual to some degree. And Tanana did, Barrow did. But depending on who was there and -- and more familiar with the area, I don't know how much they relied on -- on ours or just wrote their own. So... KAREN: Do you remember some of the content, what kinds of things were in that manual? I mean, in a general sense. DR. PARK: In -- from the teaching standpoint? KAREN: Right. DR. PARK: Well, rather -- rather basic trying to teach the aides when to recognize what was an emergency. And -- and what to do with common things, which they already had some, you know, on-the-job training, but of course, a lot was on TB and respiratory problems. And then, of course, how to handle minor injuries and when to -- when something was at the point that it should be referred in and taken care of, all kinds of injuries. So there's quite a bit on respiratory problems and injuries. And then at the time, the most common ear, nose, and throat problem was draining -- draining ears and how to treat them, as well as how to recognize when the infection had gone on into a mastoid infection. And other things, how to follow prenatal patients and watch for problems. KAREN: And, say, back in the late '50s, early '60s, medical care was way different than it is now. DR. PARK: Oh, yeah. So. And health care was so scattered, you know, and so few that you did what you could. Then yelled help if you had a problem. KAREN: I was going to say, how did you handle treating some things? I mean, was there sufficient medicines or equipment or whatever to treat the cases in the rural Alaska? DR. PARK: Well, one of the -- well, one of the first things we developed was a standing orders for the health aide, or what they should go by. And especially if they couldn't reach us by phone or radio. And each trip, we started out leaving a small supply of medicines. We were carrying quite a bit of stuff in the -- the old foot lockers. And, of course, you had to guess at what you'd need, but towards the end of your trip, you could leave quite a bit here and there for the health aides and teach them what they were and what they were for. And had a list of what they could order from the pharmacy. And then we had the standing orders from the health aide of what to do if -- if she had to. She or he. We had both. KAREN: What's a standing order? DR. PARK: Well, like with a throat at that time that looked like a strep infection, rather than just the usual upper respiratory cold, you know, with pusy areas in the throat and that type of thing, and when to use penicillin. KAREN: So it was -- DR. PARK: Nowadays they wait until there's a culture, and there was no way to do that. KAREN: So a standing order is like -- DR. PARK: If -- KAREN: -- if they see all these symptoms and make this diagnosis, you're giving them permission to go ahead and prescribe -- DR. PARK: Yes. KAREN: -- this medicine, they don't have to call you as a doctor? DR. PARK: Well, preferably -- preferably call in. But initially, communications was poor. KAREN: Right. DR. PARK: And if -- and there was only one physician on duty at night. In fact, when I arrived, we were just on call at night, but rapidly we decided that somebody should stay at the hospital. And because there were just too many things going on. And the hospital at that time was at least, I don't know, at least 200, if not pushing 250 in the hospital, which is almost a -- that's a -- that's a full-time job, if there's -- there were physicians, of course, taking care of different groups. But there were incidental things going on all the time. And if someone came in with -- with a broken leg, they might also have the runny ear, have TB, be pregnant. So there were a lot of general things going on. KAREN: So that 200, 250, that's beds? DR. PARK: Yeah. KAREN: Okay. DR. PARK: I don't remember what the maximum was. But I think we packed in a little more than that sometime. And you might have 50, 60 kids for TB treatment. And you know what illnesses 50 or 60 kids can have in addition to TB. And minor injuries. And we did -- we did, like I say, initially tried to take call from home and ended up just staying at the hospital. And it rotated the assignment. And worked the next day, too, if we didn't have enough backup. KAREN: Right. How did you manage those kind of hours? DR. PARK: Well, it could wear you out. And I had two little kids, and shortly after we arrived had a couple more. So -- so -- but Orlo helped a lot. KAREN: Yeah. I think that would be a challenge. DR. PARK: Yeah. It was. And then a time or two when whoever was on call and at the hospital would call for help and backup, and if I -- if he wasn't home and I didn't have a baby-sitter, I couldn't go in on backup, but I'd try and call someone that could go in and help a little bit. So -- but a time or two, I gathered up the kids and went in to see what I could do on an emergency basis. KAREN: I wonder, did that cause a problem with other staff members and when you said I don't have a baby-sitter, I can't come? DR. PARK: Well, I'd try and help them find somebody else. KAREN: Okay. DR. PARK: But there again, you're kind of -- everybody kind of got used to the fact that at night, you're it. And like I say, we did a little backup from the private physicians in town, orthopedics and -- and a surgeon, if -- if necessary. We -- we only had two surgeons. And -- and they are not always in town. If they made any kind of trips, and they -- KAREN: Right. DR. PARK: -- made trips out to the major hospitals. Didn't go to the villages, of course. KAREN: It sounds like you were lucky to have a husband who was supportive. DR. PARK: Oh, yeah. So. And of course, when I made field trips, he had the kids, so... KAREN: How many kids total did you have? DR. PARK: Four. KAREN: Four kids. | |
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Last updated 11-4-06
Last updated 11-4-06