Ambivalence

Ambivalent. I think that's how most of us feel about going to the dentist. We love the results—straight or clean teeth, the elimination of that aching tooth.

But like the wind affects the balloons on this sign, the thought of going to the dentist makes our smiles turn upside-down and our hearts pound in our chests.

"Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill."
~Johnny Carson

What would we do without the internet?

The buildings have been pretty much abandoned for more than 10 years now. But the caduceus symbol still remains on the wall as a reminder that these buildings used to be part of the large Gallatin Medical Group near downtown Downey. There's some talk that the site is poised for some potential redevelopment. (See I wonder who won this dispute? for more information about why these buildings are abandoned in the first place.)

The caduceus has an interesting history as a medical symbol. The caduceus is actually the staff carried by the Greek god Hermes and is a symbol of commerce and negotiation. According to Ask Yahoo!, the U.S. Army medical corps adopted the caduceus as their insignia because of its similarity to the staff carried by Asclepius, the god of medicine. But the staff carried by Asclepius has only one snake and no wings. Asclepius' staff is the emblem of the American Medical Association.

If the medical corp had just had the internet, there wouldn't be this mixup.

I wonder who won this dispute?

In June of 2000 (if I'm remembering right), I stopped by my pediatrician's office at Gallatin Medical Group to pick up a prescription for my daughter before we left on vacation. Imagine my surprise to find the entire center vacated and closed. The entire staff had left in a single day, over a dispute with the owners (Whittier Presbyterian Hospital). I finally tracked down my doctor in very temporary digs near the hospital.

My doctors have since moved on to various offices in Downey or nearby towns, where I still see them. Records have been transferred, and life has gone on.

Ten years later, the Gallatin buildings are still boarded up and vacant.

Healing hands

There are some people in this world that do not get the recognition I believe they deserve. Dr. Dan Fox is one of them. He is one of those people that just exudes professionalism but with a genuine concern for each patient. He lets them know what is going on with their body and shows them ways to fix the pain without having to come back every week for the rest of their lives. He wants them to heal and not become dependent on him or medication. I would recommend him to anyone in pain.

In case of emergency

Downey Regional Medical Center (formerly Downey Hospital) opened its doors in October of 1920 with six beds and two physicians on staff. Located on a dirt road that is now Downey Avenue, the hospital occupied the second floor of the former Downey Hotel. A year later, under new management the hospital's name was changed to Virginia Hospital. Less than two years after opening, a violent explosion occurred at a popular service station injuring over 20 people and causing nine fatalities. This disaster substantiated the need for a larger hospital.

Consequently, in 1924 Virginia Hospital relocated to 5th Street, expanded to 15 beds and became Downey Community Hospital. During the next two decades, the staff and facility grew to meet the demands of the booming population. Recognizing the need for emergency services as auto accidents became more prevalent, DRMC decided to open a 24-hour a day/seven-day a week emergency department across the street from the hospital.

As one of the few rural hospitals in southern California, DRMC soon outgrew the 5th street location. Subsequently, plans were passed to start construction of a new private, non-profit hospital in 1964.

Five years later DRMC moved from its 49-bed facility to its current facility on Brookshire Avenue, which was then licensed for 152 beds. The day after opening, eight surgeries were performed. Within one week, the hospital was full.

Information courtesy of the drmc website