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| June 23, 2006 Barnstable Patriot |  |
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, By Paul Gauvin l
Doctor's bedside manner
upstages the technology
Italicize and underscore "gentle" in gentle-
man and you are describing Dr. John V.
Thomas's bedside manner. He lives in
Easton, with two sons, his wife, Holly, also a
physician, and sees patients in Yarmouth and
Sandwich locations - so what's the Barnstable
connection?
He has made it possible for many a local
resident to better "see what I'm saying?" as
the phrase goes.
Thomas is one of 13 ophthalmologists who
formed Ophthalmic Consultants of Bos-
ton, Inc. in the 1990s, which now has satel-
lite offices in Yarmouth, Sandwich, Beverly,
Waltham and Brookline and surgery centers in
Sandwich, Boston and Waltham.
A few years ago, he decided to concen-
trate 90 percent of his time in the Yarmouth
practice seeing patients from P'town to
Barnstable , the other 10 percent in Sandwich.
In an average year, he performs some 400 cata-
ract surgeries and 300 to 400 laser treatments
at the Sandwich surgical center. Several of his
colleagues do more than that , he says with a
trace of humility.
From this writer's perspective though, what
distinguishes Dr. Thomas is the professional
attitude and conduct he developed during his
circuitous route to Cape Cod from just outside
New Delhi, India.
For all intents and purposes, bedside man-
ner is typically
described as one
that reassures
a patient via
demeanor, vocal
tones , openness ,
body language
and presence
- attributes with
which Dr.Thomas
has been gener-
ously endowed.
He is already lo-
cal legend among
observant patients and staff for practicing
Teddy Roosevelt' s advice to "speak softly " and
for a caring deportment that manifests itself
by after-hours and week-end phone calls to
patients , and what might be labeled a "light"
touch.
Thomas arrived in the United States with
his family at age 14 and spent his teen and
college years there , interned in Philadelphia ,
followed by residency at Mass. Eye and Ear
Infirmary, then fellowships at Johns Hopkins
and Harvard.
What the universities didn't teach him,
his physician mother did. "She gave me two
pieces of good advice during her years in Char-
lotte, (N.C) when patients had longer hospital
stays and doctors made the daily rounds. She
advised me to 'speak more softly to patients,
sit on the edge of the bed and touch the pa-
tient.' " Even today, when touching can be too
easily misinterpreted , Dr. Thomas continues
to follow his mother 's advice - with success.
He likes to tell the story of an experiment
noted in a British medical journal where two
sets of doctors were allowed precisely three
minutes with bedridden patients. One sample
of doctors stood up looking down at the
patient. The other sat at the edge of the bed
and touched the patient. "When patients were
later asked which doctor spent more time
with them, invariably it was the doctor who
sat down."
He pauses a moment and adds: "It brings to
mind the old saying that children spell 'love'
t-i-m-e."
I experienced Dr. Thomas' technical and
professional bearing from years of annual
monitoring to, finally, this blurry and fuzzy
year, time for cataract surgery. It may be
understated to say all of it was a pleasant
experience. The low voice, the light touch on
the shoulder, the delicate lifting of the eyelid ,
the pre- and post-op phone calls nights and
weekends, the explanations , the participatory
decision-making, friendly and efficient office
staff radiated caring and generated trust.
When I told him I thought he was a miracle
worker, he laughed in amusement. "Well," he
said in self-effacing explanation , "it's the new
technology."
The surgery was on time, brief , painless
and, in my case at least , akin to a marvel. No
more need for eyeglasses to drive at night.
The road signs are sharp even at considerable
distance, the glare from oncoming headlights
easily manageable. Colors on the TV set are
vibrant as all get out - pity that I hardly watch
it anymore.
The physical outcome aside, the interaction
with this genteel human was as rewarding as
the improved eyesight. And I told him so. He
replied that doctors may not spend a lot of
time with patients, but what's important is to
be "totally focused on them while you are with
them."
If and when the genetic pioneers decide
to clone a bedside manner. I'll offer up Dr.
Thomas as a prototype
See what I'm saying?
F^
I
_I
CORNER
LETTERS
Rick Presbrey responds
In response to a couple of items in last
week's Patriot:
First , regarding the article on workforce
housing: I am not a lobbyist. But I am an
advocate and I take very seriously the part
of myjob that requires me to advocate for all
our citizens - particularly those who are so
often not heard - as well as for the economic
health of our community as a whole.
My criticism of government was focused
on the form of government in the Town of
Barnstable. One of it skey strengths is also a
key weakness: It is very easy to make change.
The result is that we have made some fantas-
tic changes - some of the best on the Cape.
But we have also made some unfortunate
blunders. I cheer our successes and am
sometimes angry about our failures.
Concerning a response to my opinion piece
on 40B. I followed the author 's advice and
rechecked my homework concerning Stuart
Bornstein 's planned 12-unit development
in Cotuit and found I was correct. Many
people cited - verbally and in writing - the
parking problems for the Cotuit Ketteleers
home games as a reason to turn down the
project. However , parking for the 12 units
would be contained on the site. Kettleers
parking lines public roads.
We allhave an equal need for adecent place
to live. All I want is for all of us to have that
opportunity. Is that too much to ask?
Rick Presbrey
Executive Director
Housing Assistance Corporation
Licensing board is good for the
town
Put your seat belts on. I don't want anyone
to fall over in shock because I have something
nice to say about the town.
On Monday, the licensing board outdid any
Perry Mason show. Sgt . Sweeney and Chair-
man Martin Hoxie did an exceptional job on
the Kendrick's hearing.
The sergeant kept hiscool about some ofthe
remarks made. Sgt Murphy did the same.
Chairman Hoxie kept the proceedings run-
ning smoothly. As usual, Gene Burman. the
gentleman, did the same.
You can't let the tail wag the dog. It is time
to get tough.
Be good for the town or be gone. It is as
simple as that.
Tom Holmes , Sr.
Hyannis
Circuit City could short-circuit
traffi c woes
The only good thing that might come out of
Circuit City's proposed store on Route 132 isa
median to prevent left turns from 132 into the
businesses on the east side of the road. How
many of us have had to slam on our brakes to
avoid a car full of people deciding to go to one
of the fast food restaurants9 Traffic must be
re-routed around the rotary and backup 132so
that a right-hand turn can be made rather than
aleft .Why no one considers that as a route, and
a safer one at that , has always puzzled me.
In lieu of common sense, wedo need amedian
aswellasother turninglane changes on 132.1do
not support another big box store on the Cape,
but it'stime something was done about arcane
traffic flow and lack of common sense.
Phyllis Detwiler
West Yarmouth
CONTINUED ON PAGE A.B
REVERSE FREEDOM RIDERS -It was on May 12,1962 that the "reverse freedom
riders" arrived in Hyannis from Little Rock, Ark. Sent north in a cynical ploy,
34 blacks, the majority of whom were children, were sent from their Southern
homes by the good people of Little Rock with the destination of Hyannis Port,
the summer home of President John F. Kennedy, stamped on their one-way
tickets. This chapter of Barnstable history will be among those chronicled in
the museum to be established at the Zion Union Church property, acquired by
the town last week for that purpose.
ACROSS TIME 6 PLACE
RETROSPECTIVES FROM THE ARCHIVES L By Sen.Rob O'Leary
Kayla's Bill
I want to use my monthlycolumn to share
with you Kayla'sstory. Kayla Richards was
a healthy and active 21-year-old. She had
just entered the Radiographi c Technology
Program at Massasoit Community College,
and was working at Jordan Hospital in the
diagnostic imaging program. A healthy
young woman, she worked out often at
her local gym.
While using a treadmill on March 7 dur-
ing her daily workout , Kayla collapsed. A
trained medic happened to be in the gym
and initiated CPR. Kayla had suffered an
arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm,
but there were no defibrillators at the
gym to shock her heart back into a normal
rhythm. While the paramedics who arrived
on scene and the doctors and nurses in the
emergency room did everything they could
do to save her, by the time they reached her
Kayla had been down too long.
Kayla Richard' s story could have had
a different ending; as a young, healthy
woman Kayla was the perfect candidate for
survival had a defibrillator been available
at the health club.
In honor of Kayla's memory, I am filing
"Kayla's Bill," a piece of legislation that
would require health clubs in Massachu-
setts to maintain an "automated external
defibrillator " or "AED" on site. AEDs are
highly accurate ,user-friendly computerized
deviceswith voice and audio prompts that
guide the user through the critical steps
of operation. AEDs were designed for
use by lay rescuers and first responders to
reduce time to defibrillation for victims ol
sudden cardiac arrest. The rescuer turns
the A EI) on and attaches it to the victim
with adhesive electrodesor pads. The AED
records and analyzes the victim's cardiac
rhythm. If a shock is indicated , the AED
charges to the appropriate energy level and
prompts the rescuer to deliver a shock. If
the device is fully automated and a shock
is indicated , the AED
can deliver a shock
without further action by the rescuer.AKI)s
require little maintenance and arerelatively
inexpensive
The American Heart Association esti-
mates that sudden cardiac arrest is re-
sponsible forabout 250,OOOout-of-hospital
deaths annually in the United States. Early
recognition, early CPR.and early defibrilla-
tion all contribute to an increased chance
of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac
event. In the first minutes after collapse ,
many victims of witnessedsudden cardiac
arrest demonstrate an abnormal heart
rhythm calledventricular fibrillation , which
causes the heart to quiverso that it does
not pump blood effectively. Treatment for
this condition requires delivery of a shock
with a defibrillator. Deliveryof a shock can
stop this chaotic heart rhythm, allowing the
victim'snormal heart rhythm to resume.
According to medical experts , the key
to survival is timely initiation of a "chain
of survival ." including CPR and access to
the important portable lifesaving device
of an "automated external defibrillator. "
Trained non-medical personnel can use
these simplified electronic machines to
treat a person in cardiac arrest.
The Heart Association notes that at least
20.000 livescould be saved annuallyby prompt
use of AEDs. Ultimately, with broad utiliza-
tion of AEDs among trained responders , as
many as 50.000 deaths due to sudden cardiac
arrest could be prevented each year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE A:8
FRf M THE
SENATE
Jobless, a new name for
the homeless
¦l- :: , \,-
By Alan Burt
columnist@barnstablepatnot.com
If we are to become better citizens and a
better community, we need to look at the
words we use as they can help usto see where
our prejudices are and hence, be more able
to work on them. Two editions ago, Hyannis
Town Councilor Gary Brown said two things
which have stuck with me as a problem for
him and for many of us. My intention is not
to criticize Mr. Brown , and instead remind
him and all of us to think about the words
we use.
1. He said , "What' s up next? Housing!
Affordable is
not - repeat -not low income. Outside of
Hyannis must begin to realize this." To me,
what this means is, we shouldn't be upset
with plans for affordable housing in our vil-
lages as it will not be for low income people
or the homeless. And I agree with Mr.Brown
that this is the fear of most when they hear
the words, "Affordable Housing."
We are all so afraid of the poor, afraid that
they will be bad for our property values, that
they are immoral, bums and bad for our
community. And this blaming the victims
of our society, namely the lower class is
as historical as it is biblical. When will we
stop being afraid , neglectful , blaming and
punishing of those who are so desperate in
need , so desperate for our attention , love
and help.
I recommend our listening more intently
to the sermons given to us each Sunday
and a frequent reading of the Old and New
Testaments as a way to help redirect our
error in thinking about the sick and the
poor. The scriptures so clearly advise us to
make helping the poor, sick and disabled
our highest priority.
Sadly, for most of us, helping them is the
farthest thing from our minds. I feel com-
pelled to remind all of us to think about
this: What would happen if we made a huge
effort to love and help the least amongst us?
I think a lot would happen , and we would all
be happier, safer and so blessed.
2. Mr. Brown also used the word "Jobless"
as opposed to homeless. The inference here
is, if you are homeless and working, you are
okay. But if you are homeless and jobless you
are not okay. He used the word, "Bums."My
intention here is not to pick on Mr. Brown ,
but he is a leader in our community and he,
as with all of us needs to be more mindful
of what we say and do.
The few of us who really know the home-
less know that most of them are essentially
poverty stricken to the point of exhaustion
and dysfunction which comes from a lack
of sleep and the stressfulness that comes
with being homeless and/or mentally ill.
Also, many of them because of age, illness
or disability cannot work.
Most of them are good , law-abiding citi-
zens who are in dire need of our attention ,
our love , our help. We must open our minds
and our heart s to them. In the meantime ,
the pain and suffering and deaths on our
streets will continue. As far as the problem
of the homeless sleeping and urinating on
public property that Mr.Brown wrote about ,
they have no place to sleep and often times,
no place to go to the bathroom. They have
CONTINUED ON PAGE A:8