Like many patients of the West Branch Family Practice, I was stunned to learn that Emily Patton was “no longer at the clinic.”
Emily had been my primary care physician for nearly 10 years. She had treated me through the normal sniffles and bugs, and provided tremendous support through abdominal surgery and, most recently, heart bypass surgery. To learn that she would no longer be available to me was devastating. So I am delighted to learn that she will soon be practicing on her own right here in West Branch.

The practice of medicine today has become akin to the manufacture of widgets. The patient is placed on the assembly line, the doctor spends his seven minutes listening (one hopes) to the patient’s complaint, a bill is offered, and the visit is over.

I learned early on that this isn’t the way things work with Emily. She would take however much time was necessary to understand my complaint, ask questions, offer explanations and make sure that she and I both understood the situation. I had never been treated like that by a medical professional in all of my 60 years, and I came to value it tremendously.

So, thanks, Emily! The clinic’s loss is West Branch’s gain. I hope I don’t have to see you soon, but if I do it’s great to know that you’ll be there!

Dave Arnold

West Branch