Beck, Dr George 1997-06-11
Dr. George Beck, one of Lubbock’s first anesthesiologists, reflects back on his career. He discusses post-World War II Lubbock medicine and changes that have occurred.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Dr. George Beck
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: June 11, 1997
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Beck, George,
Background,
b. Wichita Falls, Texas,
1930,
Father/Mother divorce,
Childhood,
Wichita Falls, Texas,
Sickly - exposed to hospitals led to interest,
First job - hospital,
Dairy work,
Mother's work - secretarial pool for Texas House of Representatives,
Pearl Harbor Sunday,
Interest in medicine,
Parental opposition to,
Discourage by lack of wealth,
Appointment to medical school,
Paying for,
High school work,
business,
University of Texas at Galveston Medical School - 1951,
Studies,
Marriage effect on study,
Wife's nursing career,
Lubbock,
Classmates,
Interest in anesthesiology,
Medical school,
Air Force sponsored internship at John Sealy Hospital,
Strategic Air Command,
Ultra-high altitude program (U-2),
Anesthesia duty,
Flight surgeon,
Dr. Bernie Stimbridge - Aeromedical Division of Air Force's,
Institute of Pathology,
Offered position at Parkland Hospital,
Move to Lubbock,
1963 - Methodist Hospital offers position,
Part-time at Parkland,
Private practice,
Publications,
1971 - Anesthesia Department at U. T. School of Medicine - Galveston,
Lubbock General,
Dr. Peter Canazero offered position to,
Anesthesiology background,
Anecdote about woman in labor,
Early agents,
Chloroform,
Halifin,
Equipment advances,
Monitoring devices,
Comparison to flying a 747 C,
Common agents - Isophorane
Tape 1, Side 2:
Anesthesiology background (continued),
Agents (continued),
Isophorane (continued),
Penethol,
Research and development in 1950s, 1960s and 1970s,
Influence of military and space program,
Penicillin,
Beck, George (again),
Parkland Hospital experience,
Business,
Charity cases,
Doctors and hospitals assume responsibility,
Medicare effects,
Trauma cases,
"Knife and gun club",
Minorities,
Other hospitals,
Move to Lubbock (again),
1964 - Compared to Dallas,
Anesthesiologist shortage,
Nurse anesthetist,
Duties/training,
Increasing number of surgeons and specialists,
Development of Lubbock's regional medical center,
1960 - Vision of pioneer doctors,
Background of Methodist Hospital,
George Brewer - administrator,
Twenty year plan,
Local community leaders,
Recruiting efforts,
1966-1967 - Preston Smith and medical school,
Methodist Hospital's role in attaining medical school,
Cadre of doctors whom could teach,
1970 - Dr. Buesseler recruited,
Political contacts and experience,
Recruiting doctors (again),
Wives dislike of Lubbock,
Geography,
Twenty year plan (again),
Texas Tech Medical School,
Full-time faculty,
University Medical Center,
Balance between Methodist and St. Mary's Hospitals,
West Texas Hospital,
For profit hospitals,
Southpark and Highland Hospitals,
Nonprofit hospitals,
Methodist and St. Mary's Hospitals,
Lubbock General Hospital,
Treating charity cases,
For profit hospitals future,
Advantages/Disadvantages,
Outlying community hospitals,
Unsuitability for surgery,
Reluctance to cease,
English model
Tape 2, Side 1:
Beck, George (again),
Future trends in medicine ,
Comparison of US and European hospitals,
U. S. wastefulness,
Changes brought by Medicare/Medicaid,
Families demands,
Inflation,
Financial motivation ofnew doctors,
Nonmonetary rewards,
Financial motivation of medical students,
Specialties chosen by Medicare reimbursements,
Anticipate shortages,
Old-time doctors perception of new doctors (again),
Negative perception 1970-75,
Causes,
Specialist training,
Doctor draft,
Medical school changes,
Unhappy doctors,
Manifestations,
Fewer referrals,
Indentured doctors,
Beck, George reflections (again),
Future of Lubbock medicine,
Optimism,
Family,
Service attitude of younger doctors,
Lubbock tornado,
Loss of electricity and telephones,
Hospital ER,
Triage,
Large numbers of patients,
Fire trucks supply water,
Common injuries,
No warning system,
Water wells drilled,
Future for chiropractic medicine,
Relationship with American Medical Association,
Osteopaths,
Abortion controversy,
Legalization a positive,
Back-alley abortions,
HMOs,
Cost factors
Tape 2, Side 2:
Beck, George reflections (again),
Indigent health care,
Improved with government involvement,
Pride kept people from seeking medical treatment,
Abuses in government programs,
No regrets about the past,
Best of both worlds,
Family,
Practice,
Texas Tech Medical School,
Reputation,
Advice to potential doctors,
Religion and its importance
Range Dates: 1930-1997
Bulk Dates: 1960s
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Transcript:
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