DOCTOR'S DAY: HONORING THOSE PRACTICING THE ART OF MEDICINE

Practicing medicine is an evolving art said, Dr. Randy Stahly, a Cape Girardeau neurologist.

While science and technology are at the core of what physicians do, experience with patients brings out the art of medicine.

To honor the art, and the doctors who practice, a national Doctor's Day is observed each year on March 30.

The Cape Girardeau Medical Society Alliance sponsored a booth at the Learning Generation event held Thursday and Friday as the local observance.

The Cape Girardeau area is home to some 200 doctors in 43 different medical specialties.

Among them are family doctor Kent Griffith and Stahly, who agree that practicing medicine offers a chance to help people.

A family practitioner, which is considered a medical speciality, is on the front line in most medical situations. Griffith, for example, delivers babies, cares for children, teens, adults and seniors.

"We care for all ages from birth to people in nursing homes," he said. "The emphasis is on prevention to keep people healthy, but we also deal with emergencies and illnesses."

His typical day starts about 6 a.m. when he reads the newspaper and watches the television news.

His patients are increasingly well informed about medical breakthroughs and new developments. If a story appears about a new treatment, Griffith is sure to get a question about it that day.

Patients also peruse the Internet gathering information and questions for the doctor. "Often they will read about things before they appear in professional journals," Griffith said.

From about 7:30 to 8 a.m., Griffith does hospital rounds, visiting his patients admitted to the hospital.

Office hours start at 8:45 a.m. and each day brings a different mix of patients and problems.

He will see about 40 patients a day, sometimes more. Often, patients call first thing in the morning with emergencies. They need to be worked into the schedule.

"We leave open appointments at the end of the day," Griffith said, "but sometimes people need to come in earlier."

Lunch is always in the office and may last less than 15 minutes. Occasionally, a pharmaceutical company brings lunch to get an opportunity to talk to the office staff and doctor.

Throughout the day, Griffith will get some 50 to 100 phone calls and faxes with questions and requests for information.

Office appointments generally finish about 5:30 p.m. Griffith will return to the hospitals to check on patients who have been admitted during the day.

Because he delivers babies, Griffith never knows what the evenings might bring. Deliveries during office hours can also throw things off schedule.

Griffith's patients have come to expect a certain standard, a standard in attire that is. Griffith always wears a Mickey Mouse tie and wouldn't consider coming to the office without one. It's his trademark.

While most medical situations can be handled by a family doctor, sometimes a specialist is needed. "It's important to know when you need help," Griffith said.

For example, Griffith recently referred one of his patients to Stahly.

"We have an unusual mix of specialists and family docs in Cape Girardeau," Stahly said.

A similar number of medical specialities is usually found in much larger communities.

Stahly's day typically begins with administrative meetings between 7 and 8 a.m.

He does hospital rounds throughout the remainder of the morning, visiting patients who are sick.

Office visits begin at noon, where he sees patients who have been discharged from the hospital, new patients and those he is treating for ongoing ailments.

On any given day Stahly might treat people with headaches, back pain, dizziness, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

"It's a challenging speciality," Stahly said.

When he first started practicing neurology in 1976, diagnostic tools for diseases and injuries to the brain were few.

"The methods were archaic compared to what we have today," Stahly said. "It was much more of a clinical speciality."

To determine the trouble, neurologists relied on conversations and observations.

Technology has changed the way Stahly diagnoses illnesses, especially the invention of the MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

An MRI gives a detailed picture of the brain so doctors can pinpoint trouble spots or rule out problems.

However, conversations and observations are still part of practicing medicine, Stahly said.

In fact, getting to know people and their families is a big part of what medicine is about.

"We have an opportunity to meet a large number of people," he said. "Hopefully we can help them."

CAPE GIRARDEAU AREA MEDICAL SPECIALITIES

Allergy/Immunology

Anestesiology

Cardiology

Dermatology

Electrophysiology

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology

Family Practice

Gastroenteroloogy

Hematology

Infectious Disease

Internal Medicine

Nephrology

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Neuroradiology

Nuclear Radilogy

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Occupational Medicine

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Optometry

Oral Surgery

Orthodontics

Orthopaedic Surgery

Otolaryngology

Pathology

Pediatrics

Periodontics

Physiatry

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Podiatry

Pulmonolgy

Psychiartry

Radiation Oncology

Radiology

Rheumatology

Sports Medicine

Surgery -- General

Surgery -- Thorasic and Cardiovascular

Surgery -- Vascular

Urology

HOW MANY DOCTORS PRACTICE IN THE AREA?

St. Francis Medical Center

Active staff, 160

Courtesy staff, 8

Consulting staff, 5

Dental staff, 13

Total, 186

Southeast Missouri Hospital

Active staff, 171

Courtesy staff, 13

Consulting staff, 11

Total, 195