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    The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories
    The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories
    The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories
    Ebook153 pages1 hour

    The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories

    By Robert Tell

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    About this ebook

    Here is a brief summary of each of the stories in the book:

    The Medical Director's Divorce: Like a fly trapped in a spider's web, Dr. Vince Galardi spins a trap from which he cannot escape. When his wife, Renée, divorces him, the respected medical director of Bard Memorial Hospital sinks into a pit of despair. His behavior shocks his colleagues and leads inevitably to a conclusion worthy of a Greek tragedy.

    Becky's Bane: Baby Becky Kolb is destined to have a secret heartache when she becomes a woman. A horrible medical misfortune occurs in her infancy that is certain to mar her future love life. Her mother and father are distraught and don't know what to tell her...or when. What would you do?

    Number 25: When a hospital executive gets a scary phone call, he is shocked to learn the caller's identity. Hospitals attract all sorts of flotsam and jetsam along with the pearls and stars. Mixed in with the medical magicians and do-gooders, are the disgruntled employees, sexually obsessive psychiatric outpatients, all kinds of broken hearts and bewildered psyches. What is the caller's story?

    Conflict of Values: When six-year-old Dennis Washington is seriously injured, the doctors say he needs blood to save his life. "Not so," say his parents. They believe that God will save Dennis and that a blood transfusion will interfere with God's will. While they argue, the boy is dying.

    The Ice Cream Giant: Things are often not as they appear and neither are people. Think about it. You believe you know someone and, suddenly, you don’t recognize him or her. Even your wife or husband...even your kids or parents...it doesn’t matter. Plastic surgery may exaggerate this situation but, even without it, the more intimate the relationship, the bigger the surprise.

    A Parable: The Arms Merchant: Can today's friends become tomorrow's enemies? Does it ever pay to trade weapons with potential enemies? Can a people become too comfortable and miss the signals that its preeminence is threatened? This "tongue-in-cheek" satire tells the tale of a prehistoric people who did just that. Does it have relevance for our leaders today?

    He Says...She Says: A Spoof on the Eternal Battle of the Sexes. In a distant future where making babies no longer requires sexual intimacy, men and women are kept apart. The Church of the Originators has rewritten the Adam and Eve story to provide divine support for this social system. However, when Andrew Epsilon (8) finds himself attracted to a female insurgent, an heretical notion, things get interesting.

    Bard Memorial Hospital: The narrative miniatures in this extensive collection portray individual episodes involving doctors, other caregivers, patients, and employees.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRobert Tell
    Release dateDec 25, 2010
    ISBN9781458056382
    The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories
    Author

    Robert Tell

    Robert Tell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and educated at Columbia University. He now lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and winters in Boynton Beach, Florida. Tell is grateful that his parents didn't name him William Tell. He last saw snow in 2004. His award winning fiction, poetry, columns, articles, and creative non-fiction have appeared in many periodicals. He has a growing catalogue of published books including works of fiction, memoir and poetry. "The Witch of Maple Park (Harry Grouch Mystery Series #1)" is an Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize Finalist, and First Runner-Up in their Ebook Fiction category. It is compelling fiction inspired by a true story. "Nanobe (Harry Grouch Mystery Series #2)" is a hospital based medical thriller based on Tell's years as a hospital CEO and Public Health executive. "Stradella's Revenge (Harry Grouch Mystery Series #3)" retells the legend of Italian composer Alessandro Stradella's 17th Century assassination from the point of view of a modern murder mystery. In "Deep Pockets (Harry Grouch Mystery Series #4)," Detective Grouch busts up an international Mafia controlled scam bilking millions of dollars through fraudulent medical malpractice lawsuits. "Thirsty Planet" was a finalist for the prestigious Montaigne Medal award for thought provoking writing. It was recently translated and released in China by a Chinese publisher. "Dementia Diary, A Caregivers Journal" uses compassion and humor in a memoir about caring for a loved one with dementia.

    Read more from Robert Tell

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      Book preview

      The Medical Director's Divorce and Other Stories - Robert Tell

      The Medical Director's Divorce

      And Other Stories

      A Collection of Medical Fiction

      By

      Robert Tell

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2013 Robert Tell

      License Notes

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not buy it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please go to Smashwords.com and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Note: The contents of this book are works of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons -- living or dead -- is purely coincidental.

      Also by Robert Tell at Smashwords:

      Thirsty Planet: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9509

      Dementia Diary: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9565

      Other Work: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/bobtell

      Cover Art by Melody Simmons (http://ebookindiecovers.com/)

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Preface

      Part 1: Seven Short Stories

      The Medical Director's Divorce

      Becky's Bane

      Number 25

      Conflict of Values

      The Ice Cream Giant

      A Parable: The Arms Merchant

      He Says…She Says

      Part 2: Bard Memorial Hospital

      Preface to Part 2

      The Tour

      The Doctors

      The Patients

      The Employees

      The Long Term Care Unit

      Administration

      About the Author

      ####

      Preface

      This is a collection of short stories and vignettes about doctors and hospital caregivers, patients, employees and executives.

      My twenty-five years as a hospital administrator form the backdrop for this work. Part 1 is the short story section. For want of a better term, Part 2 is in the format of what I call narrative miniatures.

      The events described in some of these pieces may be hard for the reader to believe. While the subject matter is, of course, fictional, it was inspired by real happenings. I have changed names and places, and have combined or compressed factual material to protect the identities of real people.

      Today's hospitals are actually intricate medical centers with cutting edge technologies, expensive staff to properly apply the benefits of such advances, and 24-hour, 365-day readiness to attend to the needs of sick people.

      The horror stories that sometimes occur, even in the best of institutions, are probably inevitable when mixing such complexity with human imperfection. Thankfully, like airplane crashes, such events happen rarely; so when they do, they stand out in stark relief as riveting human interest tales. Mostly, hospitals are staffed with well-prepared and well-meaning human beings subject to the same flaws, fatigue, stresses, and pressures as those in other intense occupations. I salute them all.

      ###

      Part 1

      (Seven Short Stories)

      The Medical Director's Divorce

      How long has that SOB been here?

      Jack Zev carefully eased his tray onto the table in the doctor's dining room. The tomato soup sloshed over the rim burning his fingers. It drenched the paper napkin, and splashed onto his white coat leaving a red wet stain.

      Shit, he mumbled as he sat down opposite Ivan Eller. Dr. Eller had been Chairman of Surgery since Zev was in high school. Zev wiped his fingers on the dry part of the napkin and cleaned up the tray.

      Eller's grey eyebrows arched above his marble blue eyes. What SOB do you mean this time, Jack? he asked with a quizzical smirk as he bit into his hamburger.

      Zev's world was peopled with SOB's and they only varied in the intensity with which he described them. I mean Abner, he whispered, looking around to make sure no one was listening. Only half of the tables were taken and none of these were nearby.

      Oh, that SOB, Eller laughed. What's he done now?

      Zev blew gently on a spoonful of soup, and then mouthed it. Ouch, he said sucking air.

      Too hot. He put down his soupspoon and grinned at Dr. Eller. Listen, Ivan. Truth is, other than cutting my budget by 10%, he hasn't done anything to earn my coveted SOB label this week. But he is the CEO, and everyone knows that all CEO's are SOB's, aren't they? I'm just curious about when he started? Seems like he's been here forever.

      Zev sensed Eller scrutinizing his face and hoped he didn't look as young and inexperienced as he felt.

      Eller swallowed a mouthful of French fries. Actually, Jack, I like Abner Fabian. And he's cut my budget this year too. He's got the balls needed to keep the rest of us in line and he's smooth about how he goes about it. He started around the same time I did and he put Bard Memorial on the map. We were just a two bit doctors' workshop when he came. I believe the credit for the teaching medical center that we've become belongs to him.

      Zev tried the soup again and managed to down a few spoonfuls. He always felt uncomfortable around Abner Fabian and he was interested in Eller's positive comments.

      There are a lot of guys on the staff that see him differently, Ivan. Personally, I find him hard to talk to. He can be very gruff.

      Eller chuckled. That's partly his job and partly his personality. You don't make friends by saying no to their cherished goals. He has twenty years of no's in his history here. Anyway, be careful whom you talk to about him. He can be ruthless if he thinks you’re disloyal.

      Warning noted, said Zev as he finished off his soup, tipping the bowl and clinking the spoon against the side. Hey, before you leave, can I change the topic for a minute.

      Jack Zev watched the expression on Ivan Eller's face darken. Sure, Eller said, looking at his watch.

      It won't take long. It's a personal matter.

      OK, Jack, but I really don't have much time. What's the issue?"

      Zev looked around again and, satisfied that he wouldn't be overheard, he said quietly, Ivan, I need your advice. I chose to come to Bard as Director of Medical Education mostly because of Vince Galardi. I had other offers, but I thought reporting to a Vice President for Medical Affairs like Dr. Galardi would be a fantastic chance for personal and professional growth.

      And hasn't it been? asked Eller, his face showing his eagerness to not be in this conversation."

      Zev nodded vigorously. Next month will be three years since I came and it's been everything I hoped for, but… Look, I don't mean to make you uncomfortable.

      It's OK, Jack. What's the but?"

      Zev took a deep breath. I don't think I'm telling tales here, but you've heard about Galardi's pending divorce?

      Eller shrugged. Who hasn't?

      Zev exhaled loudly. That's the point. He's totally absorbed in his divorce and for months now… He looked around again. …God, please don't tell anyone. For months now, he hasn't been doing much of anything.

      Eller looked puzzled. What are you talking about? All sorts of decisions are coming from Galardi's office. He's our Chief Medical Officer. If he's not making them, who is?

      Jack Zev grabbed a slice of bread and absently tore it into little pieces. I am, he whispered and looked down at what his hands were doing.

      Looking shocked, Eller cleared his throat but, before he could react, his pager went off. I'm wanted in the operating room. Stat! he said as he rushed off, but I'd advise you bring your concerns to Abner Fabian's attention as soon as possible.

      Jack Zev, DME for Bard Memorial Hospital, bent his head, put his face in his hands, rubbed his eyes, and sighed.

      ***

      Abner Fabian peered over the top of his rimless granny glasses. They had slid down his nose again, something that annoyed him but which he hadn’t had time to get adjusted.

      In fact, he hadn't had time to do anything of a personal nature for months. He worked an inhuman schedule. Ninety to a hundred hours a week at Bard Memorial hospital were not unusual and he couldn't even escape his job at outside events and venues at which all manners of people accosted him. Mostly doctors lobbying for the latest expensive technological toy, but it really could be anyone. Patients, employees, trustees, volunteers, anyone with an axe to grind about the hospital.

      You look tired, Dr. Vince Galardi said as he sipped his diet cola.

      The two men sat opposite one another on a sofa and overstuffed chair in Fabian's plush office. Galardi rested his drink on the inlaid walnut coffee table and picked up his favorite briar pipe that was sitting in a crystal ashtray. Fabian's office was one of the few areas of the hospital where people were still permitted to smoke.

      Galardi relit his pipe with an old Zippo lighter and the room filled with fragrant smoke. Some sparks landed on his white coat, but they were extinguished before causing damage.

      Fabian frowned. Dammit, Vince, he exploded, can you blow that stuff in another direction.

      He rubbed his eyes and continued, You're right, I am exhausted. There's a medical staff breakfast meeting every morning at 7 a.m., an executive staff lunch every noon, and a dinner meeting of the Board or one of it's 27 committees every evening at 7 p.m. I haven't had a meal with Sarah, or anywhere outside of the hospital in over a month…and I've gained ten pounds.

      He took a deep breath and cracked his knuckles. Sorry to whine, he grinned, but you asked.

      Galardi knocked the ashes from his pipe into the ashtray and shook his head. "It's ok. Everyone needs to vent once in awhile. Glad to lend an ear. Not to add to your troubles, but you didn't invite me here just to sip soda pop and give

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