Croom, Dr W S 1997-07-24
Lubbock pediatrician W. S. Croom reminisces about his career in medicine and includes unique observations on changes in medical personalities.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Dr. W. S. Croom
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: July 24, 1997
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Croom, W. S.--background,
Father,
Born in Oxford, Arkansas,
Graduated Harvard University,
Teaching career,
Insurance business, Enid, Oklahoma,
Mother,
Born in Blackwater, Missouri,
Father (again),
President Harding College, Searcy, Arkansas,
Brother and sister,
High school,
Pre-med,
University of Oklahoma Medical School, 1944-48,
Move to Lubbock, 1952,
Friends in Church of Christ,
Reasons for move,
No drug problem,
No labor unions,
No crime,
Lubbock hospitals/"groups," ca. 1952,
West Texas Hospital,
Dr. Sam Dunn,
Krueger, Overton, Hutchinson group,
Taylor clinic,
St. Mary's Hospital,
Dr. Dunn personal characteristics/anecdotes,
"Making the rounds",
Checking on oil wells,
Preaching at Methodist Church,
Salvage business,
Bedside manner,
'Dunnsgate',
Preaching (again),
Becomes Baptist,
Dr. M. C. Overton,
Memorial Hospital changes,
Dr. J. T. Krueger,
Newcomers buy own equipment,
Learning surgery,
Czar tendencies,
Popularity with patients,
Surgery showmanship,
Collections,
Mr. Felton - business manager,
Taking property,
Daughter married to Bobby Layne,
Croom, W. S. (again),
U. S. Navy 1954-56,
Orders of Dr. Krueger,
Lubbock property values,
Dr. 'Spike' Mattison,
Croom W. S. (again),
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
Return to Lubbock,
'Open town',
Homer Cain property,
Borrowing money,
Mr. Posey at First National Bank,
Lubbock medicine,
Hospitals,
St. Mary's (again),
Taylor Clinic (again),
Dr. William Gordon, cardiologist,
Chatman Hospital,
Minority medical care,
Migrant workers,
Treating at Methodist Hospitals,
Chatman Hospital (again),
Extent of services,
Blacks' insurance
Tape 1, Side 2:
Lubbock medicine (continued),
Chatman Hospital (continued),
Black insurance (again),
'Splitting' fees,
Medicare,
Doctor/patient relationship,
Abuses,
Indigents still neglected,
Croom, W. S., feelings,
'Socialized' medicine,
Medicaid,
Abuses,
Social Security,
Croom, W. S. father's experience,
Croom, W. S. (again),
Interest in internal medicine,
Preference for diagnosis,
Description of practice,
Medicare/Medicaid effects,
HMOs' effects,
Production,
Lawsuits,
Doctors' salaries,
Money,
Unionization,
Career retrospective,
Loyal patients,
Medical Professional Building,
Lubbock as a regional medial center,
Texas Tech Medical School,
Dr. Brandon Hull,
Geography's importance,
Competition between hospitals,
Merger of Methodist and St. Mary's,
Bill Poteet,
Financial woes,
Avoiding big HMOs,
Efficiency,
Texas Tech Medical School (again),
Croom, W. S. teaching,
'Town/Gown' controversy,
University Medical Center (UMC),
Dr. J. A. Buesseler,
Hospital competition (again),
International doctors
Tape 2, Side 1:
Lubbock as a regional medical center (continued),
Texas Tech Medical School (again),
International doctors (again),
Effect of HMOs,
Government encouraged,
Increased competition,
Problems,
Early doctors,
Interest in personal gain,
Methodist Hospital,
UMC,
Texas Tech Medical School graduates,
Older doctors' 'service' mentality,
Dr. Hutchinson,
New doctors,
High costs of medical care,
HMOs emphasis on high patient load,
Preference for big groups,
Emphasis on business,
Medicare/Medicaid (again),
Dangers of cost cutting,
President Clinton and Congress,
Lawyers,
Croom, W. S. (again),
Personal views,
Abortion,
Lubbock before Roe v. Wade,
Tornado,
Methodist Hospital,
Treating patients,
Description of damage,
Advice to aspiring doctors,
Desire to help,
Don't plan to get rich
Tape 2, Side 2:
Croom, W. S. views (continued),
Hippocratic Oath 'trashed',
Future,
Business oriented,
Government involvement,
Insurance business,
Cost cuts,
Doctors less in control,
'Socialized' medicine,
Less respect for doctors,
Allowing death to occur,
Common in the past,
'Judicious respect',
Fear of lawsuits now,
Kavorkianism,
Medicare/Medicaid prolonging the dying,
'Milking' the system,
Expensive
Range Dates: c. 1925-1998
Bulk Dates: 1954-1998
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Transcript:
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