[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              IN HONOR OF DR. JAMES TURNER OF MARSHALL, IL

                                 ______


                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. James Turner, 
a distinguished physician from my district. Dr. Turner has served the 
people of the 19th District as a family practitioner at Cork Medical 
Center in Marshall, IL since finishing his residency 5 years ago. I 
believe Dr. Turner's commitment to providing quality health care to a 
rural community sets an example to those involved in reforming our 
Nation's health care system.
  Recently I held a number of town meetings in my district to discuss 
health care reform and the possible effects it may have on providing 
medical services to a majority of my constituents who live in rural 
communities. These very enlightening and informative meetings 
reinforced that any health care package Congress passes must protect 
and provide health care services to those Americans who live and work 
in rural settings.
  I would like to honor Dr. Turner's fine work and commitment to 
providing the people of my district with quality health care services 
by including in the Congressional Record an article published about Dr. 
Turner and his work as a rural physician. As Congress continues to 
examine ways in which to reform our current health care system, Dr. 
Turner is an example of what is right with the existing system. The 
dedication and compassion he gives to his profession is truly an 
inspiration to all of us.

            A Day in the Life of a Family Practice Physician

       Before James Turner, D.O., has an opportunity to sit at his 
     desk and before his ``office hours'' officially begin, his 
     nurse approaches him. ``Doctor, are you available to see a 
     patient?''
       The patient has a piece of metal in his eye. Dr. Turner 
     extracts it. Before he finishes with the early bird, another 
     patient is waiting.
       The day has begun at Cork Medical Center in Marshall, 
     Illinois, for Dr. Turner, a family practitioner.
       ``Eighty percent of medical school students start out as 
     primary care physicians,'' says Dr. Turner during a brief 
     break, ``but as medical students are exposed to high 
     technology, interest dwindles in primary care.
       ``After all,'' Dr. Turner says, ``We're not very glamorous. 
     We practice basic meat and potatoes medicine.'' Evidenced by 
     his next patient, a 3-year-old, who is ill. He discusses a 
     recent fall the child had and related similar stories to the 
     girl's mother about his sons.
       In another room, nicknamed the ``Antique Room'' for its 
     motif, he interviews a young pregnant woman. The interview 
     begins: ``This is your baby, I'm just here to help.'' After 
     the unhurried conversation, he's off to another patient.
       Each time Dr. Turner exits one of his three exam rooms 
     where he treats 40 patients daily, the phone in the hallway 
     is ringing. Dr. Turner answers, and talks with one of the 
     approximately 100 patients, Union Hospital personnel or 
     physicians he will field calls from during the day. He talks 
     about illnesses, and spends time referring callers and 
     patients to Union Hospital and other areas at Cork Medical 
     Center.
       Cork Medical Center is a multi-physician practice at 410 
     North Second Street in Marshall, a rural community in Clark 
     County with a population of approximately 3,300. Physicians 
     at the center are family practitioners George T. Mitchell, 
     M.D., Steven Macke, M.D., and David Davis, M.D. Richard T. 
     Kirsten is the center's optometrist. Other services are 
     provided at the center include physical and speech therapy, 
     x-ray lab services and prenatal education.
       ``I was originally interested in emergency medicine,'' he 
     said. ``As I progressed through medical school, I realized I 
     enjoyed people and their families. Emergency medicine didn't 
     provide an avenue for that. Now, I get a chance to watch the 
     family grow and I can work with them on a more personal 
     basis. Sometimes it's emotionally difficult, but it's very 
     fulfilling. You develop a certain bond with the family.''


                    do rural physicians have a life?

       A major question for many physicians entering primary care, 
     especially in a rural setting, is ``Will I have a life?'' A 
     good consideration, especially since Dr. Turner is enormously 
     busy. But for a family practitioner, it's just an average 
     day. ``We take care of everybody,'' says Dr. Turner. ``It 
     definitely keeps me busy.''
       When he's not at the office, he sometimes gives annual 
     physicals to large groups of children--sometimes in school--
     or is out making house calls. ``Yes, we still make house 
     calls,'' he says. ``Sometimes it's necessary because the 
     people cannot get out. They must be cared for.''
       He also emphasizes, ``A birth can come at any time, which 
     can turn anybody's schedule topsy turvy.'' He had at least 20 
     expectant mothers due in August and September.
       ``You can have a life, but you have to be organized,'' Dr. 
     Turner says. He exercises regularly, coaches Little League 
     and spends as much time as possible with his family. ``You 
     have to draw the line with work,'' he says. This evening, his 
     ``line'' is 4:30 p.m. so he can make it to a Little League 
     game.
       ``It's easy to take on everyone else's family and forget 
     your own. You have to push, but you can get all of it in.'' 
     He demonstrates this by calling the Pacers basketball team 
     ticket office in Indianapolis. ``One of my boys wants to see 
     Indiana play Charlotte,'' he says, cupping his hand over the 
     mouthpiece. He finds out the Pacers aren't as organized as he 
     is; he can't buy tickets yet for any of the Pacers' home 
     games.
       During the day, he periodically checks his desk, looks over 
     charts, completes dictation, makes notes and signs forms. 
     ``The paperwork can literally choke you. But it has to be 
     done.'' He gets up quickly, and is off again to see more 
     patients.
       And after the day at the office is done, if necessary, he 
     goes back to Union Hospital to look in on any patients he's 
     keeping an especially close eye on. ``Family practitioners 
     are the patients' anchor. When they go to the hospital, they 
     know us. We speak in common language to them about their 
     condition. We stay with them through their entire hospital 
     experience.'' In an average evening, he will go home to 
     receive about five phone calls from patients and the 
     hospital.
       Among the din of the ever-ringing phone, the worried 
     mothers and the sick children, there is Dr. Turner, and other 
     family practitioners like him, moving from exam room to exam 
     room. He treats his patients, unhurriedly, whether it's 
     physicals en masse at a public school or a house call to a 
     patient who cannot get to his office.
       ``It's a very demanding occupation,'' says Dr. Turner. 
     ``But I love helping people. Being a family physician is 
     something you have to love to do well.''

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