Doctor Credits Supportive Famiiy For Her Abiiity To Provide Medical And Coroner Services BY BONNIE BRECHBILL Franklin Co. Correspondent GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) “Everybody deserves good care,” says Dr. Leah Maitland. She ought to know; she’s been dis pensing good care to people for 35 years. Currently the medical director of Gettysburg Hospital, Maitland also oversees the Adams County Migrant Health clinics, works in the emergency room, and serves as Adams County’s coroner. Sev eral years ago, as director of the emergency room, she started the Medic Service. Oddly enough, Dr. Maitland’s work in private practice in Littles town from 1955 to 1985 led to her interest in emergency services. Gettysburg Hospital, like most hospitals in the early 19705, did not have a doctor in the emergen cy room full-time. Dr. Maitland explained. A doctor outside the hospital would be on call. “I stayed here at night with my obstetrical patients,” Maitland said, “so the nurses in the emergency room called me” when an emergency case came in. In 1974, hospital officials decided they needed an emergen cy room with an in-house physi cian. Dr. Maitland was one of six or seven doctors who shared those duties. “I worked a lot of hours,” she said. At age 67, she still does. An average day as medical director lasts about ten hours. In that role, Dr. Maitland acts as a liaison between the administrative staff and the medical staff, keeps up with legislation affecting health care, and oversees utilization review, which concerns the qual ity of patient care. She also hand les a steady stream of paperwork. Another of Dr. Maitland’s responsibilities is her role as coroner. “It’s a job that isn’t a popu lar one, and a lot of people don’t want it, but it has to be done,” she said. “The government makes more and more” of that, she said. Dr. Maitland is dedicated to Gettysburg Hospital. Says John Eline, director of community rela tions, “She is a driving force behind many of the hospital’s suc cessful efforts. One of her primary concerns is quality assurance in patient care.” Every other weekend Dr. Mait land works in the emergency room. “That lets me keep my fin gers in medicine. I’m not ready to quit seeing patients,” she said. Dr. Maitland gave birth to twin daughters dur ing her senior year of medical school; her son was born during her internship, and another daughter arrived during her first year of general practice. Dr. Maitland also sees patients at the year-round Adams County Migrant Health Clinic. “We had three migrant babies (bom here) last week,” she said. “They’re the only hospital patients I see anymore.” While Dr. Maitland is responsi ble for the migrants’ medical care, she is also concerned about other Dr. Leah Maitland adjusts an overhead light In an emergency operating room at Gettysburg Hospital. Photo courtesy of Public Opinion. aspects of their lives. “Some stay here over the winter and work in local factories. But if they stay too long, they will lose their migrant status, and won’t be eligible for the clinic,” she explained, noting, that some go back to Mexico for a brief period in the winter. Then they will start harvesting crops in Florida and follow the harvest northward for several months. “If the crops aren’t good, they’ll take general maintenance jobs. They will take jobs other people won’t take,” she added. Family Background Originally from Wrightsville, York County, Dr. Maitland gra duated from Florida State Univer sity and Temple University School of Medicine. Even though she attended medical school in the 19505, when fewer women than today became doctors, she did not feel discriminated against. “There is not as much discrimination in medicine as in other things,” she said. Dr. Maitland gave birth to twin daughters during her senior year of medical school; her son was bom during her internship, and Even with the recent passage of the Coroner*s Education Act, which mandates a week-long course for coroners, Maitland thinks that coron ers training in the state is inadequate. another daughter arrived during her first year of general practice. “I had a supportive family,” she said, noting that her husband’s parents lived near her in Littles town. An elderly aunt lived with Maitland’s family and helped with household tasks. Adams County Coroner Another of Dr. Maitland’s responsibilities is her role as cor- About seven or'eight times a month. Dr. Maitland is called to pro nouce dead those who have died a sudden, unattended death. Maitland said that, while she feels saddest at Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases, she also feels sorry for the intoxicated driver who goes out and hits a tree, and for the family left behind. homestead oner. “It’s a job that isn’t a popu lar one, and a lot of people don’t want it, but it has to be done,” she said. Dr. Maitland was a deputy cor oner for many years before being elected to her current post seven years ago. About seven or eight times a month, Dr. Maitland is called to pronounce dead, those who have tH/Stfis Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, September 15,1990-B3 died a sudden, unattended death. Maitland said that while she feels saddest at Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases, she also feels sor ry for the intoxicated driver who goes out and hits a tree, and for the family left behind. I could never be an undertaker,” she added. “I’d cry at every funeral.” Even with the recent passage of the Coroner’s Education Act, which mandates a week-long course for coroners, Maitland thinks that coroner’s training in the state is inadequate. “Pennsylvania’s system is poor. There should be trained, qualified medical examiners,” she said. Because small counties such as Adams cannot afford to have a separate, fully-staffed coroner’s office, Maitland thinks the state should be divided into population centers, each having a medical examiner. Now, many local auto psies go to Allentown, and, in murder cases, the doctor from Allentown must travel to Adams County to testify at the trial. Dr. Maitland’s desire to provide excellent care extends to her job as coroner. She uses six deputy cor oners who live in different parts of the county so that the police and/ or survivors are not kept waiting in case she is not immediately available. aar. Dr. Maitland credits a supportive family for her ability to combine doctoring and family.
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