Schmidt, Elwood L. 1931-

PHYSICIAN

A Doctor Shortage.

In the rich Permian Basin oil fields of south-eastern New Mexico stands the Jal General Hospital, built in 1961. By 1971 it had fifteen double rooms, an emergency room, and two operating rooms, and it served a community of almost forty-five hundred people. The only doctor in town and the only physician responsible for the hospital staff of twenty-six was a forty-year-old general practitioner (G.P.) named Elwood L. Schmidt.

A General Practitioner's Day.

On a typical day Dr. Schmidt was likely to treat patients for duodenal ulcers, upper respiratory infections, possible heart attacks, acute bronchitis, anxiety states, morning sickness, infected knees, temporomandibular arthritis, rashes, gallstones, coughs, and high blood pressure. He might have to perform appendectomies and cesarean sections. Dr. Schmidt admitted, "I like the variety. I don't think I could stand the sameness of the...

[The entire page is 435 words long]

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