Starbase Medicine

Posted on Tue Feb 23rd, 2010 @ 3:34am by Commander Basil Hart & Commander Dhindara Vrel

1,513 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Tiberius V, Ecosystem
Location: Infirmary
Timeline: present

[Starbase Typhon - Infirmary]

Caroline walked into infirmary on Starbase Typhon. While not part of the base staff sickbay on the Asgard was closed already and the facilities on the Alabama weren't completely operational yet. Caroline didn't want to wait, however. She was feeling slightly dizzy and she didn't know why. She suspected she might have caught a disease on her last away mission which, due to her El-Aurian physiology and slower metabolism, took longer to take hold and wasn't detected when the Asgard's medical staff changed her appearance from a Cardassian woman back to her normal appearance, including growing her long red hair back to its original length.

As she entered the infirmary, the nurse who sat at the reception desk smiled at her. The sign on the bulkhead indicated that her name was Helen Waite. It said, "Anyone wishing to see the doctor except in case of emergency can go straight to Helen Waite." The brass name plaque on her desk confirmed that fact. "May I help you, Commander?" she said pleasantly.

Caroline caught the name and she smirked. "Hmm, medical departments seem to have an affinity for meaningful names", she remarked. "There's a doctor Estelle Hertz and a Nurse Ophelia Payne on my ship. Unfortunately, we're transferring crew over from one ship to another and both sickbays are currently closed. I'm feeling a bit dizzy and would like to see a doctor."

The nurse got serious quickly. "I'll let him know you're here." She hurried into the other room, and came back out a moment later. "Please come into the exam room. Doctor Hart is ready to see you."

Caroline gave her a smile and a nod for thanks, then proceeded into the exam room. "Thank you for seeing me so quickly, doctor", she said, holding out her hand. "I'm Caroline Palmas, from the Alabama."

Basil Hart smiled graciously as he took her hand. His clipped British accent spoke of an upper class education. "I'm pleased to meet you, Caroline. I'm Basil Hart. Now," he gestured to the biobed in the exam room, "please sit down before you fall down." He winked at her. She probably wouldn't faint, but with her pallor and lack of equilibrium, he was concerned. From an old-fashioned doctor's bag, he produced an antique stethoscope, mounted it to his ears, and placed its cold metal disc on her upper chest, about three inches below the collar bone, and two inches away from her sternum. "Breathe normally," he instructed. He seemed to be listening intently.

Caroline took a few breaths, slightly deeper than normally. "Feels almost like I'm travelling back in time", she commented. "Haven't seen a Starfleet doctor use a stethoscope before."

Basil smiled. "I like to stay on top of the old practices in case the new ones run out of batteries." He placed the disc on another part of her chest. "You'd be surprised how much a good doctor can tell just by listening. That includes what the patient says as much as what her body says." He gave her a wink.

"Well, what's this patient telling you, Doctor?" Caroline asked. "I've been on a planet and consumed some food and drink, and now I start feeling unwell. I'm suspecting some kind of infection but I came here to make sure."

Basil frowned. "Well, your lungs aren't congested, so we can rule out a respiratory ailment. Your stomach, however, is quite vocal. I suspect it WAS something you ate. Let's just verify that, shall we?" He checked a reading on the bio bed. "Ah. You do indeed have a 'bug', Commander. I'm afraid it's quite a common one, actually. Have you ever heard of Ptomaine before?"

"Not for hundreds of years", Caroline said. "I think the concept is about as old as your stethoscope."

"It's actually a misnomer for various forms of food poisoning, but some folks still insist on calling it that. It's actually the Salmonella bacillus strain." He grabbed a hypo and affixed a capsule of liquid to its end. "This is a targeted anti-nausea shot. Its usefulness has been proven time and time again." He injected her with the dosage. "That should do you until the bug is gone." He swapped the empty vial for another one full of a pink liquid. "This is a broad spectrum antibiotic. It'll help the bug pass more quickly." He injected her with the concoction in the hypospray. "Now go to your quarters and get some rest. Drink plenty of fluids, and no greasy foods. Do you have any questions you want to ask me, young lady?"

"I do", Caroline replied. "We have a doctor on the Asgard, well, soon to be Alabama, who professes to use old, outdated medical equipment. When I went in for a physical I was expecting something like your stethoscope. Then she pulled out a tricorder merely a hundred years old." She paused, so Basil knew she was getting to her actual question. "What made you decide to use the stethoscope, and are there other instruments from nineteenth and twentieth century Earth that you're using?"

Basil smiled. "To be honest, I have some other instruments that I use on occasion, but the stethoscope's my favorite. It brings a personal touch back into the sterile impersonal machine that is modern medicine. I can tell as much about a person's respiratory system and heart by listening to them as I can by running a Feinberger over them." He held up the small medical hand scanner attached to his tricorder. I'm a good listener, which is something a lot of doctors are forgetting. They are so good at treating the symptoms and curing the illness that they forget to treat and cure the patient. Does that make sense?"

Caroline nodded. "Yes, it does. I used to be a nurse, a long time ago. I think, though, that things have improved. Back in the day, we had many injuries that couldn't be treated. I was in a field hospital, just a few miles behind the front in the Great War. Many doctors and nurses about ignored those patients they knew wouldn't make it. I can understand, giving the most care to those who will... many of us either became part of the machine, or went nuts."

Basil put a tender hand on her shoulder. "I can't imagine what you went through, Caroline, but it was the pioneering and caring spirit you nurses and doctors had back then which inspires so many of us today. If you ever want to just talk, I would be honored to listen." he smiled at her.

"Usually people do the talking, I do the listening", Caroline smirked. "My people have a natural talent, we can make people feel comfortable, wanting to trust us. It helps someone during their final hours."

"Well, Caroline, other than the mild food poisoning, you seem to be as healthy as the proverbial horse. More consistent with a woman of thirty than someone who's been around as much as you have. I see no reason why you should not be cleared for duty after you are rested up and feeling chipper again." He motioned towards the door as he helped her up. "Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you, Caroline."

"Recommend a decent spa in the area?" Caroline smirked.

Basil laughed. "I know of several on the Promenade. After you're feeling better, I could show you around."

"I mean to relax in until I get better", Caroline clarified.

Basil smiled. He took a PADD and punched in a few places, with directions on how to get to each, and handed her the PADD. "My schedule is pretty full at the moment, but should clear up in a day or two. These places should all help with relaxation. If you'd like, when my schedule does free up, I'll be glad to visit and see how you're doing."

Caroline caught the attempt at a flirt. "I'll come to see you if what you've given me doesn't work well enough. With it being a bacterial infection I won't have to wait on my slow metabolism, at least."

"Fair enough, Caroline," Basil said. "Just concentrate on feeling better. Was there anything else?"

"Hmm, actually yes. Would you happen to have a spare set of antique medical instruments I could acquire?" Caroline asked.

"I'm sorry Caroline. I only have one, and I'd be loath to part with them, as they are an heirloom. But I'll see if any of my doctor friends have an old set lying around." he winked.

"If you find one, please let me know", Caroline replied.

"Very well. I shall do so." He took her hand and shook it. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Caroline. Unfortunately, I have a mountain of paperwork to do, and I must get to it if I want to get some sleep tonight. "I'll keep an eye out for those antiques for you. Good evening."

=/\= End of Transmission =/\=

Commander Caroline Palmas
Executive Officer,
USS Alabama

Lieutenant Commander Basil Hart
Chief Medical Officer
Starbase Typhon

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