Infustion Room
cases, I knew this is what I wanted to do. Along with proper diagnosis, education of the condition, medication, and lifestyle changes, patients become better. In our field, we make an important and positive impact in patient’ s qualities of life and help them take control of their lives.”
Dr. Ready, who served as Director from August, 2008, through June, 2016, stated that he went into headache medicine because:“ I became interested in headache medicine soon after starting at Scott & White. I realized that I had not been prepared to manage headaches effectively by my residency training. I started attending headache meetings, such as those offered by the Diamond Headache Clinic Research & Educational Foundation, and I soon realized why my patients were not getting better. I had not been providing appropriate care. I noticed that my migraine patients were different than my other patients in family medicine in that they would do almost anything that I had asked them to do as long as it would make the headache go away. I still remember the first patient to whom I provided a subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan. Following the injection, I left her alone in a dark room for 10 minutes. Upon returning, I asked her how the headache was. She arose from the examination table where she had been lying down, and had a confused and surprised look on her face. She started looking around the room as if to observe the demon that had been tormenting her. She said,‘ I know it is around here somewhere but I don’ t feel the migraine
any more.’ I thought to myself, this is why I became a physician. Rarely, do you have the opportunity to have such a dramatic effect in someone’ s life. Most everyone with migraine wants the same thing – they want their life back. We want to help them get it.”
When asked what they enjoy most about working in headache medicine, the physicians concurred that:“ It is the patients and our colleagues. In our clinic, we truly enjoy the people who trust their headache care to us. The best part of our day are patients letting us know that they are better and that they were able to do something that in the past, a headache would not have allowed them to do. Our community of headache specialists is a great one to be part of as well, and we are thankful we get to work with such a great group of people every day.”
For patients experiencing headaches, the staff offered this advice:“ Learn as much as possible about your condition so that you can be a better partner in care.” HW
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLINIC, PLEASE VISIT: www. bswhealth. com / locations / temple-clinic /
The Baylor Scott & White Headache Clinic 2401 South 31st Street Temple, TX 76508( 254) 724-4179 or( 800) 792-3368
Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a. m.- 5 p. m.
38 HeadWise ® | Volume 7, Issue 1 • 2018