Health care is always changing, brought on by scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, government regulation and reform. But there is one constant: physicians still shoulder the ultimate responsibility for a patient's care whether it be in the emergency room, on the operating table or in a clinic. From the days of Hippocrates, doctors held the fate of their fellow human beings in their hands - and certainly in their hearts.
It's why we pause on Doctors' Day each year to thank the men and women who made the decision to travel down that long road to becoming a physician. We at Alliance Health Durant and Madill are grateful for the more than 50 physicians who work in our hospitals, offices and clinics.
We celebrate and honor their commitment to their field, their patients and their community. Be it a primary care doctor fresh out of residency, or a veteran surgeon who continues to h on e skills by adopting the latest technology, we thank you .
It is so easy to marvel at the almost miraculous lifesaving tools that medicine employs. And just as easy to become frustrated with medicin e when chronic disea se, terminal illness and horrific accidents win the battle over the doctor's most drast ic lifesaving measures.
It is too easy to forget th at the physician - the healer, the comforter , th e saver of lives- is a human . The same doctor who was triumphant in making a diagnosis in a perplexing case h as to deliver the grim prognosis to the patient and his family.
The pediatrician who is treating a severely injured or ill child has to go home to tu ck in her own little ones.
The longtime family doctor who has watched a patient evolve from a vibrant and active lifestyle to an aging, weakened state may be facing the sa me dilemma with his own elderly pa rent.
On March 30 we t ake time to thank our doctors - n ewcomer an d veteran , primary care and specialist -- for their unwavering care to more th an 100,000 lives we at AllianceHealth touch each year .
We acknowledge their lives out side t he hospital though we realize that t heir ch osen car eer path oft en makes it difficult to separat e the two worlds. We appreciat e th e obstetrician who ventures out in the middle of the night to bring a new life into th is world. We thank the emergen cy room physicians and hospitalist s for the personal sacrifices they make by st affing our facilities on weekends and holidays. We are grateful t o those doctors who answer emergency calls from our hospital st affs and patients while out for dinner with th eir spouses or during a child's birthday party.
The physicians who serve our hospit al and numerous clinics all have their own stories to tell, tales of heroic measures inside our walls and in their community. They are all part of the Allian ceHealt h Durant and Madill family of physicians who work with us and th e oth er members of our health care t eam of professionals to provide our region with outst anding medical care.
We are fortun ate to have these men and women. Today we acknowledge their contributions, sacrifices, skills and unwavering concern for our community.
Kevin Samrow is Chief Executive Officer of AllianceHealth Durant and Madill.
To help the community live h ealth ier , AllianceHealth Durant/Madill last year launched a free enewsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at www.alliancehealthdurant.com/enewsletter-sign-up
About Alliance Health Durant
AllianceHealth Durant is Southeastern Oklahoma's largest hospital- a 138-bed licensed acute care facility offering a range of inpatient and outpatient services. AllianceHealth Durant's quality of care has been recognized by respected agencies and national accrediting bodies. AllianceHealth Durant is an accredited hospital by the Joint Commission. AllianceHealth Durant also earned Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. For more information please visit alliancehealthdurant.com
AllianceHealth Durant is owned in part by physicians.