Dr. Michael Blue has served the community through the Olmsted Medical Center office in Wanamingo for the last six years. His decision to relocate and be closer to his grand children is a result of taking his own advice he often dispenses to his patients. His new position at a family medicine office in Okanogan, Washington will allow Blue and his wife to live close to his grandson and new (yet to arrive) granddaughter.
Blue worked as a teacher of nursing at a community college before deciding to start med school at the age of forty-one. Starting a career at middle age is not the a usual choice and he comments that he will likely be paying his student loans out of his social security check. But it was the profession that he felt compelled to follow. Blue has worked as a pediatric nurse and performed charity work in third world countries, spending time in Thailand during 1980 with the American Refugee committee and working at a Catholic Charity Hospital in St. Lucia, in the Caribbean after med school.
Even so, Blue sees himself as more of a teacher, instructing his patients on the maintenance of the human machine. “Medicine is more than just taking a pill”, Michael states, “its finding a lifestyle to take care of your physical condition”. His mission is to turn everyone in town into their own doctor, and he is simply an educator to help people look after their own body. Being a general practitioner was what Blue wanted to do. While many opt for specialization in their medical career and the financial compensation that follows, Blue has preferred to choose the path his heart led him down. When offered the opportunity to come to Wanamingo six years ago he jumped at the chance. Working in a single doctor shop was the position that suited him. Helping people of all ages in a small community is what he loves to do. And he is quick to point out that he would have not been able to do his job without the dedicated help of the staff at Wanamingo. “Shayla, Bonnie and Mary Ann make the clinic work”, Michael emphatically states.
“Life has been a spectrum of learning”, Blue muses, “I am a professional student.” There is always so much to learn and taking care of people is not always prescribing medicine. Sometimes there are personal issues that are underlying and a good doctor must look a patient in the eye and be willing to spend the extra time to diagnose and resolve what a pill may not cure. “You can do your job without looking like it”, he relates. Getting a child to trust him and gaining their confidence can be accomplished through many ways and is not just limited to the youngest which are brought to the clinic. He remembers some of his first patients he saw in the early days in Wanamingo were really checking out the new doctor in town and once they approved he was alright for all their friends. “Meeting other like minded independent thinkers has been a highlight of being in Wanamingo”, Michael said. “I have found many friends here and I am going to miss them.”
When looking back over his 35 years in medicine, Dr. Blue says he has lived out his dream. “My life has been very full and rich”. Working with the less affluent has been rewarding. He remembers starting out practicing medicine in a small county hospital where the budget didn’t provide for the fancy equipment and latest gimmicks, but they made up for it in dedication to caring for people. He is looking forward to the new practice in Washington State and sees a lot of promise in the new position, an agricultural area in the high desert with fruit, grapes and vineyards and the average working laborer to watch after.
And he will be close to his grandchildren and be able to do what he has exhorted his patients to do. Be close and spend time with those you care about.
Olmsted medical Center is committed to maintaining the office in Wanamingo and providing a valuable service to the community. They not only are caring for the ill but also provide a wellness service in the form of DOT physicals for the local workforce. One change Dr. Blue has recommended in his replacement has been to offer a female practitioner on a regular basis to expand care to those who would feel more comfortable with that choice. The Olmsted Medical Center has enough reserve staff available to provide continuity of service while a replacement is found. March 9th will be his last day on the job before he embarks on his next adventure. - by Terry Campbell
