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Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Physician won’t admit patients DEAR DR. GOTT: I am con- fused about the meaning of my doc- tor’s announcement that the family prac- tice center I fre- quent will no longer admit patients to the hospital. The announcement went on to say there will be no effects on patients and that they are investigating the need to increase their clinic hours in order to pro- vide patients more access to the clinic. Dr. Peter Gott call” for patients who might require hospital admission after hours, on weekends or on holidays. Some- times physicians cross-cover for one another, so they are on call for a day or so covering for sev- eral physicians, but When I asked my doctor about it, she said that it is becoming common practice around the country. I can accept that my own doctor won’t be coming to the hos- pital to check on me and will only receive reports from the specialists at the hospi- tal. If I have to go to the ER and don’t have a doctor with a relationship to the hospital, will I be treated differently? My family practice once had four doctors. Owing to retirement and other things, they are down to one doctor and two physician assis- tants. I don’t know what a PA’s qualifications are, but apparently they aren’t allowed to admit patients. I live in a small city that is running out of doctors. Should I try to find one that admits patients to the hospi- tal, or does it not make any difference? In one year, I will be on Medicare and won’t be able to find a new doctor then because nobody in town is accepting new patients if they are on Medicare. Also, if my cur- rent doctor leaves the clinic, is a PA an adequate replace- ment? DEAR READER: Unfortunately, this is becoming common prac- tice. Doctors awaken early, make hospital rounds (sometimes even before going to the office), see a full slate of patients, order testing and follow-up, and often get called to the hospi- tal because a patient requires hands-on care midday regardless of the physician having to leave a waiting room full of patients. Then there are the nursing-home patients who are seen according to a specific schedule unless a medical emergency requires imme- diate attention. Then they can go home for dinner at the end of a very long day. He or she then could be “on then have a day or two off from admissions only. To provide an example, I still remember one Christmas a few years ago when I cov- ered for several physicians and had 26 patients in the hospital. It goes without saying I had no intention of eating dinner with my fami- ly. Things may not be as dramatic now as they were then, but you get the idea. Today, many hospitals — even those in smaller com- munities — hire hospitalists to fill the gap. These people are hospital-based and extremely qualified. While they may not know you per- sonally, they certainly take the pressure off difficult sit- uations. Now on to the PA issue. A PA is a licensed health- care professional. He or she works under the direction of a physician, and is certified, state licensed and can diag- nose, order and interpret testing, prescribe medica- tions, and assist in other areas. Also, when issues arise that a PA might ques- tion, the physician is called in to review and direct the situation. Acceptable prac- tices vary according to train- ing, experience and state law. I can’t speak highly enough of the PAs I have had the pleasure to work with. More and more offices are using them (and nurse practitioners, who are also invaluable) to ease the bur- den of a busy practice. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. ★★ Man moves on quickly after wife’s suicide Dear Annie: My daugh- ter-in-law took her own life a few days after Christmas, leaving behind our son and 10-year-old grandson. ‘‘Jane’’ was only 33, but we loved her like our own daughter. The marriage had been in trouble for a while. The last time I spoke to Jane, she suspected our son had been unfaithful and was thinking of divorce. Instead, she died of a drug overdose. Now, just a few months later, our son has announced that he has ‘‘someone special.’’ This girl is 23, and apparently, he’s been seeing her for quite some time. Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar out of his life altogether. It is not necessary to give your blessing, but you must stop criticizing the relationship. Tell your son that, yes, he is entitled to live his life as he chooses. But you know he loves his child, so you hope he will consider counseling for the boy, who is surely having difficulty accepting his mother’s sudden death whether he shows it or not. Then ask how you can help your grandson. We recom- mend extra time with the grandpar- ents. My husband and I are still griev- ing for Jane. When I told my son that it might be a little too soon for him and especially for our grand- son, he became unglued. He said, ‘‘I’m not dead, and neither is my son. We need to keep on living.’’ Our son intimated that if we don’t accept this relationship, he will keep us from our grandson. He says the boy is fine with the new girlfriend and her family, and we should be, as well. But we know the boy doesn’t have a choice. We are still grieving, but if we don’t give him our blessing, we worry we will lose out completely. What can we do? — Grieving in the Midwest Dear Grieving: Your son sounds like a real charmer. Still, you have to be very careful, or he will cut you Dear Annie: After 20 years of marriage, my husband and I have separated. We seem to love each other, but we have grown apart. For the past year, my husband has detached himself from the rest of us, and when he is with the fam- ily, he is miserable. The truth is, it’s been so nice and stress-free since he left. The kids and I get along better than ever, and they seem much hap- pier. I have told my husband that it will take time to work through our differences, but he says it isn’t hap- pening fast enough. He made the decision to move out, and now it’s still not good enough for him. What am I supposed to do? — Married Dear Married: Both of you seem happier apart, and it may be the ‘‘limbo’’ situation that is creat- ing the problem. So decide. You can divorce. You can remain separated indefinitely, but see a lawyer so it is legally binding regarding financial support and child visitation. Or, if you want to reconcile, get into counseling, together or separately, and see whether those differences can be worked out. But please pick one already. Dear Annie: ‘‘Still Miss Him’’ said her father died and she could never forgive her mother for remar- rying. She should accept that her parents had a marriage that her mother honored by wanting another one. My father died at age 68 after 49 years of marriage. Two years later, my mother married a widower. The two daughters from each marriage considered it a tribute to their happy first marriages that they wished to marry again. The benefits: I gained a second father, our children have grown up with a grandfather, and our grand- children have a great-grandfather. My mother passed away in January, but I am blessed to have my won- derful second dad alive and well at 100 years old. — A Lucky Gal Dear Lucky: Thank you for sharing your family ‘‘love’’ story. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Corning Healthcare welcomes new doctor Dr. Sylvester Wold has asked Sandra Bagwell, PhD, FNP-C to take over his practice when he retires Monday, May 24. “I will miss my patients, some whom I have had as clients for over twenty years,” Wold said. “Sandra is a well qualified caring person, and I am relieved to leave my patients in her care.” Bagwell earned her doc- torate in Psychology and her Master’s in Science and Nursing from California State University. She holds a national certification as a lactation consultant and has been in family practice for more than 30 years. Corning Healthcare Dis- trict Board voted to give Bagwell a $50,000 grant to cover set ups costs and the first three months of prac- tice. “Having met Dr. Bag- well, and heard Dr. Wold’s AMERICAN SELF-STORAGE ★ 64 Mulberry Ave., Red Bluff • 527-1755 • Fully Fenced • Onsite Manager • Well Lit Property website: www.americanselfstorage.biz • RV & Vehicle parking now available Anniversary Special: FREE Regular or N.G. glass with all custom frames during May. Must persent this ad. Offer Expries 5/31/10. Oversize glass not included 857 Washington St. red bluff 530-527-3369 LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEED! Call now for rates. “It’s Time For Change” ★ Dave Hencratt for Sheriff Meet & Greet May 11th 6-8 pm M&M Ranch Cafe 645 Antelope Blvd. #1 in Frontier Village across from the Fairgrounds Paid political advertisement Courtesy photo Pictured, from top left, are Corning Healthcare District Director Patricia Rasmussen, Dr. Sandra Bagwell, Dr. Sylvester Wold, Director Marlene Mason, Director Lupe green and District Manager Shirley Fay. recommendation, we are confident she is a good fit in our community,” President Partricia Rasmussen said. Secretary Treasurer Marlene Mason and direc- tors Lupe Green and Sheri Abel were glad the board could assist in maintaining a practice that has specialized in senior care. Corning Healthcare Dis- trict has been providing ser- vices to southern Tehama County since the 1950s. It has assisted in recruitment of physicians for Corning Medical Associates, assist- ed Corning X-Ray with a grant and most recently is in the middle of building the Meuser Memorial Health Center. For more information, call District Manager Shirley Fay at 824-5451. May 7th is Show us Your Hope Day! Wouldn’t life be better if everything was purple? We think so! That’s why on May 7th, the Red Bluff community will be turning purple! Decorate your store, office, and restaurant and wear purple on May 7th. Join the celebration in support of Relay For Life, the American Cancer Society’s largest event and the world’s biggest fundraiser with more than 3 million participants. During this overnight community event, teams walk around a track, relay style, to raise funds, celebrate survivorship, and remember those lost to cancer. Relay For Life of RED BLUFF May 15 & 16, 2010 Vista School – 1770 S. Jackson Street 9:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies Contact: Debbie O’Connor, Chair (relaytrailboss@gmail.com) Published through an event co- sponsorship agreement with D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY