The beloved doctor from Pasvaly has been working in one place for 60 years: “It’s not difficult for me to work or live”

Although, according to the story, he is a Zemaite from Telšiai, fate changed so much that after the exile he came to work in Pasvalis by appointment and spent 60 years here.

“According to the appointment, I came to Pasvaly in 1964. This is my first and last job. Not much in total: work experience – only 60 years! I work in one place in Pasvaly – first at Pasvaly hospital, then the polyclinic was separated, and now I am in the primary health center”, says A. Sudavičius.

Neither work nor life is difficult

Although he has reached a solid age, the doctor does not complain about his health and says that the most important thing in life is his attitude.

“There are already some health problems, but I work, I don’t complain, I’m an optimist in life, I’m in a good mood, it’s not difficult for me either to work or to live,” shares the philosophy of life of a doctor with a long experience.

True, it did not take long for the alarming news to spread among the patients that their longtime doctor was preparing to stop working.

“I have enough patients signed up according to the internal medicine doctor’s rate, none of them leave, even though they are old. Everyone is asking if I will leave this year, the message has already spread that I will no longer work,” said A. Sudavičius.

When asked if there is a basis for such rumors, the doctor does not hide that he has decided not to renew his license at the moment, although he still has time to change his mind and prepare.

“But I don’t want to anymore, that’s enough. Although I have no problems with patients, I know the whole area. I am a non-conflict person, it was easy to work with. I have loved my work since the beginning, I respect people, and they respect me accordingly,” he continued.

He even remembers maiden names

The distinguished Lithuanian doctor said that he knows almost everyone by their last name, knows where they live.

“I still remember women’s maiden names. It makes it easier to work and communicate,” he said.

The residents of Pasvaly recognize the doctor very well both on the street and in the store. However, he is joking – if he himself greets everyone, the other side answers.

The problems are like everywhere – the birth rate is decreasing and the elderly are dying. Women are now on strike – they don’t want to give birth.

“Such a character, I congratulate everyone. Those who know me more closely, and talk to me, ask what to do when I will be there, I say, I don’t treat on the street, come anytime, tomorrow, the day after, I don’t have queues, I accept everyone – urgent, sick, feverish on the same day, I don’t answer to anyone. It’s easy to get to me, maybe that’s why patients don’t want to run away, to leave,” said A. Sudavičius.

He sees off some patients on their last trip: “I still often go to visit funerals, I express my condolences, especially to those with whom I had a closer relationship, who are older, who have been treated for many years…”

Women do not want to give birth, and old people die

The interviewer regretted that times have changed over the years. When he came to work, there were 44 thousand people in the district. population, and now – only 23 thousand.

“People have halved. And the number of patients registered with us in the polyclinic has decreased, because two private offices have been established, and naturally the population is decreasing. Our rural, fertile area, but the population is decreasing. The problems are like everywhere – the birth rate is decreasing and the elderly are dying. Women are now on strike – they don’t want to give birth.

When I arrived, the birth rate in our district was about 600, and now it is only 60. Now births are given elsewhere or not at all. The hospital no longer has a maternity or children’s department, it was recently closed,” stated A. Sudavičius.

Patients come to talk

When asked how the patients have changed in such a long time, the interviewer said that everything happened, but they managed to avoid major anger.

“In the polyclinic, older patients predominate – they go to the doctors more often for medicines and complaints, and diseases then stick more often. Others may want to chat and talk. I say, you came with a stick, why did you leave it? Says: “I forgot” (laughing). And because of that, the population has increased – you need to communicate, sympathize, not respond,” he said.

Today, as doctors complain more and more loudly that some patients cross the limits, even are aggressive, A. Sudavičius notices similar trends.

“There are some, but, as I say, when I’m older, everyone knows me, knows me, maybe they don’t communicate with me like that. Sometimes, they make claims – why didn’t they help, why didn’t I get better? Maybe you prescribed the wrong medicine? They ask for referrals to other doctors, we can now write them everywhere – to the second, third level, we do not answer – please. But when I’m already writing the shipment, then I think about whether I should go.

There are also complaints about incapacity for work – they want to continue, they ask why I don’t give the bulletin – isn’t it a pity? There are lies and abuses. Especially those who work restlessly, change jobs, do not find peace in life. I work every day from 7 in the morning, it happens, but I have never had such an angry, rude, with major problems,” says the doctor.

The interviewee thought that rural people are simpler, more sincere, and that’s why it’s easier to work: “In the city, maybe more with characters, more irritation, more stress, problems at work, on the street. And older people are more modest, polite and sincere sting.”

Recommends senior doctors to patients

The interviewer confirmed that there is a great shortage of doctors in the districts, but at the same time he was happy that a new shift is coming.

“There is now a Ukrainian woman who came to us from Vilnius, Panevėžys. So we have three new middle-aged internal medicine or family doctors. This will be someone to delegate work to. Although the demand is definitely there, it is also announced that there is a shortage on the Internet. But there is a lack of workers everywhere – both middle-level staff and doctors,” he stated.

When asked what he thinks about those patients who exclusively prefer to see older doctors, and others – only younger doctors, A. Sudavičius says that he prefers to see a specialist who has already accumulated a little more experience:

“But if I refer to a specialist, I ask the patient what kind of doctor he was – young or not?” He says he’s older, I answer that it’s very good. It means with experience. I do not deny that the young know worse, but he is still young and lacks experience. Personally, I will go to someone who has been working for 10-15 years. An older person wants to be with an older person. A young person may have more knowledge, but there is still life practice. But I advise my patients that the doctor should be older.”

Although many doctors criticize the current health system due to excessive bureaucracy, e-health that is constantly stuck, a long-time doctor assures that it is actually simpler now.

You need to be able to communicate with patients, more sincerity, simplicity. Of course, it also depends on your character – how you treat others is how you treat yourself. But working is not so much physically tiring as emotionally, psychologically.

“Now we are moving to the Internet, it seems to me that it is now easier, simpler, you no longer need to write an outpatient card. Of course, we can’t throw them away, you have to look at what happened 15-20 years ago, it’s not available on the Internet. And patients no longer need to have paper tests for tests and referrals, it is enough electronically. That’s why I don’t complain about anything and I won’t complain”, said the doctor of the Pasvalis Primary Health Care Center.

It is recommended to look for vitamins in the market, not in the pharmacy

Although many younger doctors complain that they lack energy or that their health is failing, doctors do not have magic recipes for staying active and vibrant for a long time.

“You need to be able to communicate with patients, more sincerity, simplicity. Of course, it also depends on your character – how you treat others is how you treat yourself. But working is not so much physically tiring as emotionally, psychologically. And I get a little tired in the afternoon, but I don’t feel anything in the morning, it’s nice to work, I don’t remember what bad happened, I look at it positively. You need to be able to be simple yourself, love work, patients, not only respect them”, reasoned the doctor who has been treating patients for six decades.

Speaking about health, the interlocutor also emphasized the importance of prevention and preventive programs. Now, he says, there are great opportunities to get tested in time instead of waiting until you get sick. The doctor also mentioned the advantages of living in a rural area, near the land, where you can grow your own apple and carrot.

“When I was studying, for many years they said that vitamins should not be bought at the pharmacy, but at the market. This vegetable is important. Collective gardens contribute to health – not only flowers, but also fruit trees, vegetables are grown, but physical work also contributes. It does not harm a person, health does not deteriorate from it. You get sick when you don’t have a job. And psychologically, unemployment is more tiring. Of course, a lot depends on character, and there is inheritance from the family,” said A. Sudavičius.

The doctor himself likes to hunt in his free time, and together with his wife, he cultivates flowers, especially peonies, of which he grows several types.

He became a doctor by accident

When asked how he decided to become a doctor, the interviewer says that life just happened that way.

“I was taken outside the Urals for 8 years, I spent 12 years there. My father worked as a laborer at the hospital, it was so determined by life that I found myself among doctors, I socialized. Even though I was an exile, I studied well, it was not difficult to enroll.

I enrolled, studied, and then completed half of my studies in Lithuania. I really have no regrets, I respect and am proud of my craft. There will always be work here and you will be needed,” said A. Sudavičius.