DINNER TRAIN: The name R.J. Corman out of context might mean nothing to you, and to many, may mean nothing in context. R. J. Corman loved railroads as a youngster, and when he “grew up,” started a company to recover trains which had derailed for whatever reason, becoming so expert that railroad companies all over the United States found that he could recover their trains better than they and cost them less than if they recovered their trains themselves. Along the way, he has bought several short-line railroads as various enterprises, mostly in the eastern U.S., many in Kentucky. The headquarters of his group is just outside Nicholasville, where he has a momentous exhibit of rail and air (he is now into airplanes, too).

My first knowledge of him came more than 20 years ago, while at a medical meeting in Bardstown. I had two young granddaughters and had planned to enrich their heritage, since they were of Roman Catholic origin, with a visit to the monastery from which sprang Thomas Merton (he of “Seven Story Mountain” and other magnificent works). While there we discovered a dinner train of great repute. So we did that, too.

It was magnificent — a real Choo-Choo Train ride for about three hours through verdant countryside at probably 35 miles an hour, during which we were served well-prepared food (which even the girls liked) for a “different” kind of entertainment.

And so I was introduced to the R. J. Corman Company.

Now the Herald Leader reports that Mr. Corman wants to extend some track that he owns into downtown Lexington, and start a dinner train from Lexington to Frankfort, and later to Louisville. I think that it is a marvelous project. I drive to Lexington for the Philharmonic and other stuff in addition to visits to my offspring, and I would drive there for dinner on the train by Corman. I will follow developments with baited breath.

* * * *

REPUTATIONS: Since physicians are (generally) held in high esteem, it is disappointing to discover that some people have falsely represented themselves as physicians in order to create esteem for themselves, or even worse to further a sexually predatory enterprise, such as the man in Mount Sterling who expanded operations to Fayette County, and under the guise of “research” paid men for sexual examinations and “treatment.” (Lex Herald, June 17, 2009). I comment on this to note that (1) scams exist in all arenas, including medical, and (2) that usually physicians in a group have been thoroughly vetted by the group, and (3) that no physician, in group or solo, would be insulted to be asked about his credentials.

Note that this happened in a metropolitan community, but recently it has happened in eastern Kentucky, so living in the boonies is no “protection.” I have practiced solo, in a small group, in a large group, and in a university environment, and have had to show my credentials at all levels. It “goes with the job.”

* * * *

NURSING MOMS: You may have read my recent screed on breast-feeding in McDonald’s. It is interesting and gratifying to read currently in Dear Abby about aficionados of nursing who have preserved the intimacy and privacy of infant care while at work, using humorous as well as straightforward terms to maintain that privacy.

Do I think that every baby should be breast-fed? No, for various reasons. But I do think that any mother who wants to nurse her baby should have the opportunity in privacy. And by “privacy” I mean audible as well as visual — a quiet atmosphere, not the stimulation of constant noise, such as that in a quick food restaurant (or many regular restaurants, for that matter).

* * * *

THE VA ENDOSCOPIC FIASCO: Since newspaper and online reports, and particularly the righteous indignation of the National Commander of the American Legion are rampant, I obtained the report (all 45 pages of it) to find out what was going on. It all started when an endoscopic nurse noted that her service was not following precisely the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleaning the endoscope after use, and reported it. A following survey revealed that three busy VA centers were not exercising precision in cleansing the scopes after use, thus becoming breaks in assurance of patient safety. (It should be noted that not all of the endoscopes were of the same manufacturer, so that cleansing techniques would not necessarily be identical across brands.) This survey then caused a nationwide survey of VA centers doing endoscopy, and found essentially the same “non-compliance” systemwide.

And so began the letters to veterans who had been “scoped” about the potential risk of infection. I am unable to find a report of a single infection case to date, which doesn’t mean there are none, but no red flags go up in my search.

So, we are getting a lot of hullabaloo about a break in protocol discovered, and promptly acted on, by the VA. This should be an occasion for rejoicing, rather than horror and vindictiveness, that the VA responded immediately to a report of this break in protocol, launching a system wide investigation, hiding nothing, and initiating a prompt correction notifying potential subjects, as well as taking correctional measures in VA facilities nationwide. As a member of the American Legion, I say “Slow down, Commander Rehbein (and other naysayers), and thank the VA for getting on top of things gone awry.” And to Legionnaires I say, “if you had endoscopy and receive a notice from VA to report for follow-up, don’t go to pieces. Follow up as requested and wait for the results, and then decide what to do.”

* * * *

Bouquets or brickbats to Flyer44d-author@yahoo.com