INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we join Dr. Stewart and his nurse-assistant, Molly Baker, in their medical office. They have a new computer to help organize their office work. Molly is typing all their patient records into the computer. It’s not always easy to become familiar with a new tool. But Molly sees that the computer will be very helpful.
ACT I
Philip: Morning, Molly.
Molly: Good morning. I’m in here, with the new baby.
Philip: Baby?
Molly: Well. The new computer.
Philip: [He enters.] Ah! How’s it going?
Molly: Pretty well, so far. It’s complicated, but I think I can do it.
Philip: What are you doing right now?
Molly: I’m entering all our patient records.
Philip: That sounds like a lot of typing for you.
Molly: It is. But I have a feeling this little machine is going to make life a lot easier around here in the future. Let me show you something. With this computer program. There’s a standard form for keeping patient records.
Philip: I see, you just fill in the patient’s name, address, date of visit, reason for visit, and treatment.
Molly: Now, here’s the good part. Once all the information is in the computer, I can find it in several ways.
Philip: Whoa! You’re ahead of me there. What do you mean by “several ways”? Can you show me?
Molly: Well, I can ask the computer for a patient’s medical history by typing his or her name. Alice Brown, for example. Or I can type in the name of a medicine. Here’s a list of everyone using this medicine. And here’s Alice Brown’s name.
Philip: I get it! Hey, it looks as if Alice Brown needs to refill her prescription.
Molly: You’re right. You see, you can look for all kinds of information.
Philip: Molly, you’re a quick learner. Can I see a printed record?
Molly: Sure. Lets print out Alice Brown’s medical record. [She waits for the printout.] Mmmmm-mmm. This is the best part.
Philip: You sit back while the computer types.
[ The telephone rings.]
Molly: That’s right. Until the telephone right. Excuse me. [She answers the phone.] Dr. Stewart’s office… May I help you? Ah, Mrs. Brown. What can I do for you? ... Alice needs a new prescription. No, there’s no need to go get the number. I have it right here in the computer.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we’re back with Dr. Stewart and Molly Baker at the Riverdale Hospital. Their new computer is now a regular part of their office. Dr. Stewart knows the computer can make record keeping more of efficient. But this afternoon, in an emergency, it helps to save to a young patient.
ACT II
[The telephone rings.]
Molly: [She answers the telephone.] Hello. Dr. Stewart’s office. May I help you? ... Good afternoon, Mrs. Roper. How are you? … The doctor’s busy at three o’clock. How about four o’clock? …. You’re welcome. We’ll see you at four…. Good-bye.
Philip: I’m going to get some coffee, Molly. Would you like some?
Molly: No, I’m drinking less coffee these days. I drink only one cup a day.
Philip: Yes, too much coffee isn’t good for you.
Molly: And I never drink it at night. It keeps me awake.
Philip: I know. Yes, it’s good to keep it to a minimum. But today I need something to stay awake. I was working in the hospital until three o’clock this morning. If I don’t have some coffee I’m going to fall asleep on my feet.
Molly: Some juice would probably do the same thing.
Philip: You’re right, Molly. I’ll try the juice and skip the coffee.
[A frightened mother and her sick son rush into Dr. Stewart’s office. The boy is sick, and he is coughing.]
Mrs. Grosfeld: Dr. Stewart!
Philip: Mrs. Grosfeld, Bobby---What is it?
Mrs. Grosfeld: It’s Bobby. He can’t breathe. It’s his asthma. It’s never been this bad before.
Philip: Lie down here on the examining table, Bobby. What medicine did we gibe him the last time?
Mrs. Grosfeld: Oh, oh, I can’t remember. We changed from one medicine to another kind. I don’t remember.
[Molly begins typing at the computer.]
Philip: Molly, cal up Bobby’s records on the computer.
Molly: I just did. We prescribed his usual Formula 3, and then we changed it to Formula 8.
Ph: Mrs. Grosfeld, did you give him the old medicine or the new medicine?
Mrs. Gr: There was only a little of the old medicine left. So I finished that medicine, and then I gave him some of the new medicine.
Ph: That’s the problem. You shouldn’t mix those two formulas.
Mr: I just didn’t know.
Ph: Mrs. Grosfeld, we’re going to have to take Bobby to the hospital emergency room. Molly, print out Bobby’s records. His records will have formulas. We’ll need that to treat him.
Molly: Right! Got it! Ok. The computer is printing the records.
Mr: Is he going to be all right?
Ph: He’s going to be Ok, Mrs. Grosfeld.
Mr: Oh, thank goodness!
Mo: Here it is.
Ph: Good. And thanks, Molly. You did a good job, as always.
Mo: Well, the computer certainly helped.
Ph: [to Bobby] Ok, son. You’ll be all right. Let’s go! |