The big news in the office yesterday was the unexpected death of one of my patients. He was about eighty, but a young eighty. He lived alone and was the primary caregiver or his wife who has far more significant medical issues. I can best describe him as a kind, intelligent, and thoughtful man who I always welcomed to see on my schedule. From what I understand he was turning onto the state highway that runs through town and was "T-boned" by a truck coming at him.
Only one-third of all motor vehicle accidents take place in rural areas, but two-thirds of MVA related deaths take place here. Car accidents in rural areas involve higher speeds and it take EMS an average of eight minutes longer to respond that in non-rural areas. Once more 57-90% of first responders in rural areas are volunteers who often do not have the training of professional paramedics.
My concerns now move to his wife. Will the son and daughter-in-law who live in town take her in and provide the twenty four hour care that their father did, or will she move to the nursing home? Will she be long for this world now that her husband is gone?
Only one-third of all motor vehicle accidents take place in rural areas, but two-thirds of MVA related deaths take place here. Car accidents in rural areas involve higher speeds and it take EMS an average of eight minutes longer to respond that in non-rural areas. Once more 57-90% of first responders in rural areas are volunteers who often do not have the training of professional paramedics.
My concerns now move to his wife. Will the son and daughter-in-law who live in town take her in and provide the twenty four hour care that their father did, or will she move to the nursing home? Will she be long for this world now that her husband is gone?
The Country Doctor