Forsythe, Dr Ted H 1997-05-05

Dr. Forsythe, a long time Lubbock physician, discusses his career practicing medicine in Lubbock and comments on the direction modern medical care is taking.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Dr. Ted H. Forsythe

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: May 5, 1997

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Interviewer: Lori Lawson

Length: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Forsythe, Ted, background, b: Crystal City, Texas, Father's work, Boyhood towns lived in, Graduate Lubbock High School, President class, 1944, Texas Tech University, U. S. Navy, 1944, Premed, Texas Tech, University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (UTMB) 1953, Interned at Brackenridge Hospital, Obstetrics/gynecology residency at UTMB, Private practice in Lubbock opened, 1957, Retired, 1994, Taught at Health Sciences Center, 1994-1996, Students' attitudes, Medicine changes, Managed care, made it 9 to 5 business, Government intrusion, Medicare/Medicaid, Medical care taken out of doctors' hands, Outpatient hysterectomies, Doctors' loss of control, Pre-Medicare charity care, Obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN), Described, Medical training changes, Board certifications, Residencies, Forsythe, Ted (again), Interest in OB/GYN, Dr. Willard R. Cook at UTMB, Lubbock medicine background, Split by Broadway Street General Hospital Group and West Texas Hospital Group, Privately owned, Forsythe, Ted (again) - visit 1955, Duststorm, Denver City, Texas, Methodist Hospital, "Open Staff", Forsythe, Ted (again), Move to Lubbock 1957, Getting on staffs, Buying stock at West Texas Hospital, Buying stock at West Texas Hospital, West Texas Hospital sold, 1969, Lubbock as a medical center, Geographic area covered, Lubbock's positive qualities, Texas Tech Medical School, Specialists, Medical technology, Microscopic diagnosis, Displasia Clinic, Nursing services

Tape 1, Side 2: Lubbock as a medical center (continued), Nursing services (continued), Lubbock's reputation, Character of West Texas people, Changes, Less personal, Golden age of medicine, Physician responsibility, Doctors in control of treatment and diagnosis, Patient/physician relationship, Mutual admiration, Less technology, Doctors' training, New doctors have different priorities, Third party intervention - insurance of government hurt medicine, Surgery, ca. 1951, Public viewed, Lubbock pioneer physicians, Dr. O. W. English, First in Texas to put plate in skull, Lubbock, Crosby, Garza County Medical Society (LCGCMS), Forsythe, Ted (again) delegate to American Medical Association (AMA) Convention, 1977-1994, Dr. C. L. Montgomery, Texas Tech Medical School, Conflict with town doctors, AMA delegate duties, Policy making, Texas Medical Association (TMA) relationship

Tape 2, Side 1: Forsythe, Ted views, Medicare, Opposed, Insurance system ca. 1964, Negative effect on self-esteem, Lubbock tornado, Driving automobile, West Texas Hospital emergency room, Methodist Hospital, Anecdote about nurse Johnson, Dr. O. W. English anecdote about Great Depression, Forsythe, Ted, views (again), Abortion, Opposed, Complications, Indigent health care, HIV care, Chiropractic medicine, AMA position, Osteopathic medicine, Difference with chiropractics, Women in medicine, Forsythe receives Asheville-Smith Award, UTMB distinguished alumnus, Increasing numbers, Positive influence, Minorities in medicine, Herman Barnett in his medical school class, Not controversial, Retrospective over career, Satisfaction, Third party interference (again), Patients, AMA, Advice to aspiring doctors, Don't go into it for the money, Comments, LCGCMS's community service undermined by third party (government and insurance)

Tape 2, Side 2: Texas Medical Association (again), Membership types, Forsythe, Ted, Emeritus member, 1995 - only member of LCGCMS to get this, Medical organizations', Dues, AMA, LCGCMS role, Education, Warned doctors of managed care, 1985, Maintained ethics, Board of censors, Alliance (doctors' spouses), Indigent care, Younger doctors' money priorities, Golden age of medicine (again), Teaching hospitals served indigents, Medical liability insurance, Then and now, Lawsuits, Oversupply of lawyers, Advertising in medicine, Federal Trade Commission threatened AMA's code of ethics, AMA membership (again), Allopathic and osteopathic medicine, Differences, Chiropractic medicine

Range Dates: c. 1922-1997

Bulk Dates: 1957-1997

Access Information

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