The practice

Until October of last year, I worked exclusively through the hospital here in Placentia. In addition to my emergency, inpatients and nursing home work, my regular family medicine clinics were within the walls of this modern building. I had an excellent time with it, most particularly with the dedicated staff who helped me in numerous ways. But then, in October, the opportunity presented itself to move into private practice, and after much thought I decided to pursue it.

And I had thought that things were going to slow down after my first anniversary in Placentia! Many of you reading this have already gone through this stage in professional life, either on your own or as part of a group, with varying experiences, but all of them exhausting. Like all such moves, there were massive hurdles and pitfalls, checklists to complete, whole new operations of a small business to understand, and a vast array of surprises.

But these memories fade when I think on the more magical events: putting up the Spiderman decals, reading my ad in the paper, and picking out a name (Fort Frederick Medical Clinic -- named for the nearby site of the British fort erected in Placentia after the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht with France. You'll have to consult Dr. James Seviour for the exact date of the treaty; I can never remember it!).

I remember the first day in the new clinic clearly. Hectic, yet exhilarating, my new staff and I had a very good day. The best part, though, came at the end, after I had just seen the last patient. I wrote my clinic note and signed my name and then stayed quietly still. I stole a few glances around this, my new clinic office, then rose slowly going over to the examination rooms and looked around. I let myself luxuriate in a small rush of pride for a few minutes, and then brought myself back to the time at hand.