Q&A
(page 7 of 7)
Russell Hermus
Family Medicine / Dean
Describe the dynamics of treating patients of all ages.
It’s something we do every day, all the time, and it’s what makes family practice interesting, because we have so much variety with what we do as far as the kind of problems we take care of. And sometimes it transitions in the same room. Yesterday I saw a mom, she had her child along; I got done taking care of the mom and she says, “Will you take a look at so-and-so. Because I think he’s got an ear infection.”
Tell me about a patient you will never forget.
Scotty. Young gentleman with Down syndrome who I met when I first came here and was able to take care of until he passed away about two years ago. Scotty had a number of physical deformities and a lot of arthritis. It was difficult for him to raise his arms or even to reach out, but every time either I or my nursing staff walked in the room, before he talked to us, he had to give you a hug. And before you left, he had to give a hug. He was one of those patients that every time you saw him, it tugged at your heart, but you also left the room feeling better. So it could have been a crummy day, terrible things could be going on, but when you see Scotty, you left with a smile.
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