Page 20 - Outstanding Women Friendly Physicians (2)

Dr. James McClurg Photo by Lisa K. Miller
By Judith A. Habert

There are three words found under the logo on Dr. James I asked Dr. McClurg what we can
McClurg’s business card, they are Excellence, Dedication & do as patients to help ensure that
Caring, and these words certainly sum up the essence of the man. our medical system continues to
I was lucky enough to spend some time the other evening discuss- be available to those who need it,
ing the doctor’s practice, the state of medicine in this county, the particularly with a large number of
changes coming our way with the new healthcare reform, and how baby boomers facing the need for
he feels about a profession that has been his life over the last 30 increased medical attention. His
years. response was extremely interest-
The study of medicine has been a passion for Dr. McClurg since ing and allows for all of us to play
he was only 5 years old. A decisive child, by the age of twelve, he a part in the future of our medical
had even chosen his specialty, Orthopedics. system, “A large majority of pa-
Dr. McClurg grew up in Puerto Rico, in a home where he was the tient illnesses and complaints are
only male among a bevy of females. His father left when he was due to poor lifestyle choices.
three, so the doctor was surrounded by two sisters, an aunt, and
a mom, who he proudly credits for his abundance of caring and
his unstoppable work ethics. As Dr. McClurg shares, “I have a
profound respect for women and I understand them. If a woman
comes to me and is very upset or emotional, I take her seriously
and I listen to her concerns. I will take as long as is needed to
help answer her questions and alleviate her fears.”
This man is not only extremely intelligent, and a phenomenal
surgeon, but he is an all around nice guy. With his white jacket,
proudly displaying the American Flag, Dr. McClurg pays homage,
not only to his service to our country as a eminent surgeon, but
also as a reminder of his time spent in the military serving in both
the Air Force and the Army.
What was it that his patients felt made him deserve the title of
“Outstanding Women Friendly Physician?” Ironically, one of his
patients, a physician herself, shared the following comment about
Dr. McClurg, “What impressed me most was how compassionate
he was. My visit with Dr. McClurg was one of the longest appoint-
20 ments of my life. I thought perhaps he did it for me because I was
also a doctor, friend and colleague, but I watched and he did it for
all of his patients. He helped me find a surgery that I could have
which was a lot less extensive than what other doctors had recom-
mended. I felt comfortable enough to question him and then make
my own choices.”
As Dr. McClurg notes he will never shortchange a patient when it
comes to the time he gives them. As a result he has impressed
his clients enough that they not only continue using his services,
but they recommend him to family and friends in need of a caring
and competent orthopedic surgeon, another female patient noted.
“I have recommended Dr. McClurg to at least 15 or 20 other family
members and friends. He has done so much to improve my health
and I want to share him with everyone around me who can benefit
from his medical knowledge and his caring nature.”
As a result of his dedication, Dr. McClurg often puts in long days
with patient care, surgery and the business of running a practice,
which is not easy in our current economy. He informed me of a
very serious situation facing many doctors today. “Close to 40% of
all medical practices are on the brink of bankruptcy. As a physi- As a society we need to eat better, exercise more, stop smoking
cian you must not only handle your patient’s medical care, but also and limit alcohol intake. We basically need to take responsibility
the daily management of your business. Unfortunately, this is not for our own health and wellbeing, which will in essence decrease
something taught in medical school, and often is the reason for the amount of doctor’s visits needed.” He adds, “This decision to
failing practices. If we do not fix this soon we will be faced with practice a healthier lifestyle must start with our young people. Par-
only the corporate practice of medicine, and doctor’s offices will be ents must encourage their children to eat healthier and get up off
a thing of the past.” the couch and walk. As a physician I can tell you that the epidemic
Other changes in the medical field also have Dr. McClurg con- of obesity in our children really worries me. When I was in train-
cerned, “There is talk of shortening the length of residency pro- ing, seeing a child suffering from type two diabetes was unheard
grams, and having stricter limits as to the time a doctor can be on of, you would only see type one. Now we are seeing this quite
duty. This may result in less qualified physicians and more waiting often. We have a massive number of overweight youngsters with
time in doctor’s offices.” With a son currently in medical school, type two diabetes. It is so hard for these children to grow up to be
Dr. McClurg is cognizant of how these changes will impact our healthy fit adolescents and adults.
future healthcare options.