ABSTRACT
Many Americans, now over 60 years of age, may think back nostalgically to the medical care we received as youths. Perhaps the memories are similar to Bob's: he recalls lying on the living room couch, bundled in soft blankets, in his lowermiddle class home in the suburbs. When reporting a sore throat in the evening, his mother would say: 'No school for you tomorrow; I'm calling Dr Siegel!' In the morning, Mother would call the school principal's office at 7.30am, 'Bob is sick and will be absent from school today.' She'd call Dr Siegel at 8.30am, during his morning call hour. The doctor would answer the phone himself. Mother would explain the situation: temperature 103°, sore throat, can't swallow. Dr Siegel would say: 'I'll be there at 2.'
