Alpha Omega M.D. – Episode #284

…Hospital mortgages require cash and good paying customers are out there, it’s just that, the really, really good money comes from the riskiest of all medical procedures…

Barter For Subscription by F.S. Church

Image result for time passing gif But as the days and weeks passed, Doctor Campbell has learned the difference between the word intent and commitment. Oh sure, all his friends made an appearance at the grand reception that week in 1947. They came to acknowledge the crowning achievement of a 58 year old man of compassionate vision.

Not that the others weren’t either of those things, but what they have not, is the greatest obstacle to philanthropy. They do not own a large piece of Tallahassee acreage, let alone their own private clinic. ‘If Alpha Campbell can afford to give away his services, that’s’ good for him.’

As things turned out, it did not take as much arm twisting by a Wilson or two or a Lewis or two, as was first thought. Yes, there was the issue of funding A&M Hospital, but in the end, pure and simple jealousy rears its ugly head.

And that is what hurts A.O. Campbell the most. He doesn’t show it on the outside, he without a hateful bone in his body, but people know that the A&M gang has stayed put, behind the cover of Gibbs Hall, down Wahnish Way and the Dyson Pharmacy building.

In the meantime, there is Lettie Golden’s mother, right leg amputated at the knee and no one to care for her with the special needs of an amputee. And the Johnson twins, delivered two months early, after being turned away because the two-week stay at A&M would cost a gaudy $400! ‘Ol’ Doc Campbell has plenty of room at his clinic. He can always feed his hospital patients with the chickens and eggs and peach pies he gets for his services.’

Cash flow by Annie Lee

And the funny thing about Lewis State Bank; they do not accept barter, whether it is a Georgia peach pie or five loaves of buckwheat bread. The classic pound of flesh is a distant and impractical option. Mortgages require cash, or its equivalent, and good paying customers are out there, it’s just that, the really, really good money comes from the riskiest of all medical procedures, both professionally and legally.

Now, brain surgery may come to mind. There’s big demand for that. It certainly is a risky medical procedure and a legal nightmare should everything be not right with the person with an extra hole in their head. But brain surgery is not something they offer as a refresher seminar at the Mayo Clinic.

Plastic surgery is lucrative, an up and coming field with scores of, mostly women, lined up for nips, tucks and noses the size of Rita Hayworth’s. Doc Campbell has put some noses back into place, after a fall or barroom brawl, but as far as rearranging middle-aged skin… not exactly his cup of tea. Besides, leave one scar on the wrong rich lady and then you will have hell to pay.