Evening star., 1957-08-14

dIlBlcI, va, I'll AoAoIl0 III O4ACos
tants searched fruitlessly for
three years for doctor. Finally,
citizens matched a 5000 gift
from the local Meth odtst
church, constructed q medical
center and so were able to
attract a physician--Dr, Mikio
Kato, a genial. hadsome young
bachelor from Kobe, Japan,
10000 miles away,
What Tangier had to do to
get a doctor is an extreme ex-
ample of all-out efforts being
pushed by hundreds Of small
communities all over America
to get doctors for their subur-
ban, rural. and sometimes iso-
lated towns.
Practitioners Lacking
Here in the national head
quarters of the American Medi-
cal Association a large wall
map of the United States at
tests to the problem. The map
is practically blanketed with
multicolor pins. each Of which
indicates some comInunity's
urgent need for help in bring
ing one or more doctors to
town.
Why the problem? Part of
the answer lies In the overall
shortage Of general practition-
ers. But for most small towns.
the problem is one Of cash, A
modern physician. unlike the
horse-and-buggy family doc
tor, needs a lot more money
before he can even open q new
Office. His first thought: Can
this town provide me with
enough patients to help me
over the hump?
Too, many towns must re-
place doctors who leave to ind
their fortune in q big city. In
some cases, death takes the
community's only physician.
To ease the doctors passage
over the hump, many small
towns are organizing active
committees to raise funds for
medical care centers. small
hospitals, clinics, and some
times even to buy q home in
which to put up the doctor and
his family, all carefully calcu-
lated to help lure q doctor.
Bankers Offer Help
A common practice is to get
local bankers to extend liberal
credit terms. When DR.. H. M.
Braswell, for example, started
his practice in Owen, Wis, he
was able to walk into an ONCE
and clinic. all appropriately
financed for him and no rent
to pay for the first six months
Recently, the citizens Of Cal
vert City, KY. agreed they
could use the services Of an
other doctor, but getting one
proved to be difficult. Towns
people turned to an active in
dustrialist, who helped them
organize a committee.
The committee took over 9
50-year-old vacant bank build
ing. Materials were obtained
from local businessmen at sub
stantial discounts. Skilled
hands eagerly turned to fol
carpentry. plumbing, painting
and electrical work. They goi
their doctor, and townspeoplC
were so pleased with the com.
mittee's work that they imme-
diately began to raise funds fol
a small hospital. too.
In Rutledge, Ca, the com.
munity Of $50 laid more thar
$500 on the line to help A.
nance the medical-school edu.
cation Of a student from q
neighboring city. The plan is tt
have the student. on gradua.
ton. set up praetie in Rutledge
After four years Of practice
the student-turned-doctor will
repay the loan at q 4 per cent
interest rate.
Doctors Prefer Cities
1t is not easy to convince q
doctor to practice In q small
town, unless he happens TO like
rural. perhaps isolated. living
Most doctors these days prefer
working in areas near a hos.
pital. They like modern facil.
tiles, modern drugstores, anC
modern living. And doctors
being highly educated. fire.
quently like high-level intel.
lectual. and cultural dfversifl'
cation.
Fortunately, most towns d.
not have to battle alone for {