| This bedside
manner is particularly important because, according
to Dr. Spencer, “Having their tonsils removed
can be one of the most psychologically traumatic
events of a young person’s life. The way
to prove this is to ask anyone, whether they are
80 years old or 30, if they can remember the day
they had their tonsils removed as a child.”
Dr. Spencer goes out
of his way to minimize the psychological trauma
of the surgical experience by encouraging children
and families to visit the hospital Pediatric Unit
prior to surgery. Parents are permitted to accompany
their child into the operating room on the day
of surgery, and they are allowed to be in the
postanesthesia care unit with a special toy or
bear when the child awakens following surgery.
“Sometimes we
sing songs in the operating room while they’re
going to sleep,” Dr. Spencer said, adding
that intravenous needles are never started until
after a child is asleep.
As concerned as he
is with reducing the psychological impact of medical
and surgical procedures, Dr. Spencer is equally
focused on minimizing the physical pain and trauma
associated with surgery. To help reduce blood
loss and swelling, he uses a device known as a
bovi cautery, which coagulates as it cuts through
tissue.
This device improves
surgical outcomes to the degree that children
may often be discharged within six hours of undergoing
a standard tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
“Instead of
being out of school for a week, and having a sore
throat that lasts even longer than that, children
are out of school for three to five days, and
their sore throat only lasts for seven days,”
Dr. Spencer explained.
Seven-year-old Jessica
Schwartz and her four-year-old sister, Julia,
are among Dr. Spencer’s satisfied patients.
The Schwartz family first consulted Dr. Spencer
last year when Jessica began William Spencer,
MD suffering from chronic nosebleeds.
After applying a topical
anesthetic to Jessica’s nose, Dr. Spencer
began performing magic tricks. Once the anesthetic
had taken effect, Jessica was completely relaxed
and Dr. Spencer was able to cauterize the inside
of her nose.
So pleased were Jessica’s
parents that when Julia experienced a series of
strep infections accompanied by loud nighttime
snoring and daytime sleepiness, they brought her
to Dr. Spencer who removed her tonsils this past
October.
Mrs. Schwartz appreciated
Dr. Spencer’s calming manner as much as
her children did. “He eased my mind as a
parent whose daughter was having surgery,”
Mrs. Schwartz stated. “My husband and I
had no doubt that he would take excellent care
of her.”
Along with taking
care of patients, Dr. Spencer is committed to
educating future generations of physicians, an
activity he engages in as an Assistant Professor
of Otolaryngology at SUNY Stony Brook. Dr. Spencer’s
academic activities include teaching residents
and fellows at the VA hospital. His experience
as a researcher has resulted in the publication
of more than 20 articles in peer review journals
and he is also the author of a book chapter.
“This is the
philosophy of my practice: Stay current, do research,
teach, and collaborate with pediatricians so that
we are working as a team to provide coordinated
care,” he explained. The result is a unique
benefit to Huntington residents – the availability
of universitycaliber medical care within the comfort
and convenience of the local community.
Dr. Spencer is looking
forward to expanding the specialized testing offered
in his office as well as the upcoming opening
of the Clark Gillies Pediatric Unit at Huntington
Hospital.
“I am so excited
to be part of this brand new facility,”
he enthused. “I think it will be great for
the kids.”
December
2003
More from Dec
2003 Healthline
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