Medical Associates Clinic

 Quality Care Close To Home

Gettysburg Medical News
The Clinical View
by P.E. Hoffsten, M.D.
 21 December 2004

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

            Again this year, I’ll take time off from warning and pleading and teaching and begging people to exercise better health habits.  The information and advice regarding the many diseases that we have to face gets kind of old at times like this and it is better to say Thank You and count our many blessings.

            Last year, I relayed personal information regarding my own health which continues to be excellent.  I got a new knee this year and everything went fine.  It even works and it doesn’t hurt anymore.  My special thanks and gratitude goes to all of the healthcare professionals including the physicians, the physical therapists, respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians, the x-ray department, the nursing staff who helped care for me during my surgery in Pierre.  I remarked then and repeat now; I don’t think South Dakotans appreciate what an excellent medical team and hospital facility we have in central South Dakota.  It worked great for me.

            The second thing I am very thankful for is the safe return of our two children from Iraq.  They both returned home without a scratch.  Unfortunately, one of them went elk hunting soon there after and ruptured a meniscus in his knee.  Perhaps elk are more dangerous than Iraq.  He will be fortunate enough to have that surgery to correct it by our excellent medical team in central South Dakota.

            Our hearts go out to all of the families in South Dakota and the United State of America whose loved ones are still in harms way in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and many other places in this world.  Their sacrifices have been substantial and in some cases overwhelming for those whose loved ones will not return home.  There is something special about living in the state where the governor’s brother is leading a company of South Dakota soldiers in Iraq.  We do have a governmental system and people participating in it who practice fairness for all.  That is very special.  By the way, it is important to remember that is what we are out there fighting for.

            Again this year the Christmas trees in the Capitol are beautiful.  The State tree is dedicated to individuals who have overcome major health problems such as heart attacks or cancers.  Their stories are always inspiring and testimony to the favorable results that can happen when South Dakota toughness, resilience and faith is combined with modern medical technology.

            I am thankful to live in a country where we can pick our leaders without having to go to war.  There may be a few arguments and demonstrations to be sure but not a war.  Our method for picking our leaders is not perfect but it is certainly the very best that the world has come up with thus far.

From a medical standpoint, I am especially thankful to the patients who put their trust in the care delivered by our local clinics.  Central South Dakota has an excellent group of healthcare professionals in the staff the clinics of Rural Health, Inc. in Gettysburg, Onida, Highmore and Murdo.  The growth of Rural Health to provide clinics in Fort Pierre in the future signals their continued growth.  The hospital in Pierre works in conjunction with the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital to provide excellent medical care for these communities and surrounding area.  Our physicians in Central South Dakota continue to do an excellent job.

            Lastly, I am thankful to the Food and Drug Administration and our pharmaceutical industry for providing us with medications to help us with the many illnesses our society continues to struggle with.  The Vioxx drug recall will be looked upon by some as a flaw in our system.  Rather, I think it is a measure of success of our system.  The Merck Pharmaceutical Company was carrying out studies to see if Vioxx prevented colon cancer and it appears that it probably does.  Incidentally they found that there was an increased risk of heart attack in patients that were in the Vioxx wing of the study. This does not prove that Vioxx causes heart attacks but rather than contest the problem further, Merck elected to pull the drug from the market.  Now we have a similar finding recently recorded by the National Institute of Health in regard to Celebrex.  Again, some would look upon this as a failure of our system.  I would emphasize that this is a success of our system in finding flaws that can only be found when a medication is administered to huge numbers of people.  When the flaw is found, the drug may either be removed from the market or a warning provided to those who feel the risk warrants continued use of the medication.  It should be remembered that our medications are designed to help people deal with disease problems.  It is an imperfect science but thankfully the intent is always to help people deal with disease. The many medications that we have to help deal with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease have been a definite benefit to all of our society.

            Enough said, Merry Christmas to All and a Happy New Year!