Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 5, 1994 TAG: 9412060030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BUCHANAN LENGTH: Medium
Many residents of this Botetourt County community came near the 4 p.m. opening of Sunday's reception for the new doctor because, at their age, they like to be home before dark.
They streamed into Community House to greet Dr. Robert Stough and formed a reception line that didn't let up at all for the first 30 minutes.
"We need a doctor bad," Dorothy Smith said. She has lived in Buchanan for 63 years and is within walking distance of the doctor's office.
"There's awful nice people in Buchanan. If he comes here, he'll be appreciated," she said as she watched the new doctor shake hands. "We're so glad he's here."
The reception line moved to the cadence of "We're so glad," but changed occasionally during references to a case of the hives or sinus drainage.
Amoxicillen might fix the hives, Bob Stough commented to one greeter. The sinus problem, however, is just an area "condition," he told another.
For some time, it appeared that no doctor was going to be Buchanan's condition. The last physician left 21/2 years ago, and he hadn't been there long. There were a couple of others in and out before him.
The office they practiced in stood empty, but still equipped.
In recent months, led by drugstore owner Blaine Daugherty, residents circulated petitions supporting the need for a doctor. Town Council rallied and appointed a search committee that included Daugherty and Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle.
Eventually, they were led to Carilion Health System in Roanoke.
What happened was a sort of convergence that ended in the party thrown Sunday by the Town Improvement Society.
About the time Buchanan was making one more effort to attract a doctor, Stough, an anesthesiologist, decided to enter a family practice residency program at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
Stough (it rhymes with "Ow") got his medical degree in 1980, and then completed residencies in pediatrics and anesthesiology.
While many specialists are retraining as family practitioners because that specialty is in great demand, Stough said his decision was not a "shrewd professional move."
He just grew tired of the "business, money and machines" focus of his anesthesiology practice. "It's not very people-oriented," he said.
And Buchanan was just the sort of place the Daleville resident thought he might like to practice in when he graduates next year.
"Now everyone has a chance to see how things will work out," Stough said.
Beginning Jan. 1, he will staff the Buchanan Family Health Center on Main Street three half-days per week while he finishes his residency.
"This is exactly what I planned to do. Exactly why I retrained ... to go somewhere they need a doctor," he said.
Dr. Cathryn Harbor will join him in August after her graduation from family practice residency and after her family is settled in its new home in Buena Vista.
Carilion Healthcare Corp., the Carilion entity that operates family practices, will subsidize the practice with more than $70,000 until Stough graduates.
The town has 1,200 residents, and it has been estimated that the community will support 11/2 to 2 doctors, Stough said. The trial period will test this.
At the end of the trial, Carilion will back out or stay involved "as the doctor wishes," a Carilion Healthcare executive said.
"He can do whatever he wants to do," said Hugh Thornhill, executive director of the company.
"We responded to this. It was not something we sought. I think Dr. Stough and Dr. Harbor had this planned."
By the time Carilion got involved, everything was ready to go, he said.
The community also already has $1,000 of the $6,000 it needs to provide handicapped access and exterior improvements.
"I think the doctor is going to be overwhelmed," pharmacist Daugherty said. "He's the perfect match."
"The community has to realize, though," Daugherty said, "that if we lose this one, it's over."
He nodded toward a handwritten sign posted about 8 feet up on a column in the reception room and said he expected the doctor experiment to succeed, though.
"Water level. 1985 Flood," the sign read.
"You should have seen how this community pulled together then," Daugherty said.
by CNB