Interview with Gertrude Isaacs, November 15, 1978

Interview Summary

Gertrude Isaacs, who has her doctorate in nursing, was co-director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program with Dr. W. B. Rogers Beasley in 1971, and then was named Education Director of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. In 1977, she became a consultant to the school. She speaks of her acquaintance with Mary Breckinridge, and of what the FNS meant to the local people. Isaacs discusses Breckinridge's philosophy of preventive care and teaching the people to care for themselves. She comments upon the change in atmosphere in FNS relations with local residents when the nurses stopped visiting in the homes. Isaacs believes that part of what Breckinridge created has been lost through over-regulation by federal and state governments and by Medicare and Medicaid. Also discussed is the controversy over physician support of nurse-midwives and the increasing demand for home deliveries. Besides giving statistics, Isaacs clarifies a number of terms, differentiating between primary medical care and primary health care. She also discusses social relations within the mountain family and the position of children.

Interview Keyword

Appalachian Region--Social life and customs Beasley,W.B. Rogers, Dr. Hyden (Ky.) Immunization Medicaid Medicare Rural health services

Interview LC Subject

Breckinridge, Mary, 1881-1965 Children--Health and hygiene--Kentucky Frontier Nursing Service, Inc. Medical care--Appalachian Region Nursing Preventive health services

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Interview Usage

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