Interview by Monica Jones, BCMS, COO

A Look Back and Ahead with Dr. Phillip W. Voltz, Jr.

Phillip W. Voltz, Jr., MD is interviewed by Monica Jones, BCMS COO

Almost 70 years of being a member of the Bexar County Medical Society (BCMS), Phillip W. Voltz, Jr., MD, Radiation Oncology Specialist, and a BCMS member for life visited the BCMS office. During a very candid interview, Dr. Voltz took us back when he was the 77th BCMS President in 1973.

At 93 years old, Dr. Voltz is the eldest living BCMS President today. He became a member of BCMS in 1959, Vice President 1973, Presidentelect 1974 and President in 1975. Dr. Voltz has six kids, seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren. He was accompanied by his wife Geneva. Dr. Voltz discussed many notable events during his Presidency, but there was one that stood out. In February of 1975 BCMS tackled the professional liability insurance (malpractice) concerns. There were several problems: rising premiums for each physician, particularly those certain “high risk fields”, more suits (70 in Bexar County, unofficially in 1975), physicians practiced defensive medicine and ordered tests and x-rays which probably were not necessary, inability of some physicians to obtain insurance, resulting in some physicians practicing without insurance. There was a change in attitude of patients and their families to include even hostility. Dr. Voltz stated that the causes of these problems include the “age of miracles”, the patient is immortal and if the patient dies or had a bad result, they had the wrong doctor. The “Nada” attitude – questioning every act of “lack” of action in our practice. It was a time of economic stress; many people were looking for the fast buck and the number of lawsuits were increasing. The insurance companies were problematic in that the patient considered them to be rich and that a suit really wouldn’t hurt their doctor. The insurance company pays and then raises the rates the next year. Their profit and overhead continue. To resolve these issues the TMA and BCMS formed a special task force addressing concerns. The task force would work on the following: better rapport with the patient, National and State legislation, establish our own local, state or national insurance company to fight every nuisance or unfounded claim to the bitter end, drop our professional liability insurance and own no property in our own name, write a release form stating that once patient selects a physician as his physician realizing his human frailty, varying skills, training, judgment, knowledge, or lack thereof, in his care, that we are liable only for gross negligence.1 Four bills were introduced and general hearings on the professional liability problem were held on March 4, 1975. Under the supervision of the TMA’s Legal Counsel, a major effort was made to present the physician’s case from all standpoints at the state legislature. BCMS physicians were selected to testify and offer prepared remarks and documented cases. In the July 1975 president’s message, Dr. Voltz said, “The professional liability insurance crisis in Texas and the nation has done more than anything I have ever seen to stimulate our members into activity, involvement, and unity. I haven’t met or communicated with a single member who hasn’t volunteered to work in every way possible to help alleviate this situation to help our society, medicine, and our patients. This interest and activity are, and has been, happening all over the state. With unity there is strength.”2 Unfortunately, Dr. Voltz did not see the “Patients Insurance Compensation Act of Texas” approved during his term as BCMS President, but in 1977 Texas Legislature (Both Houses) passed the “Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act of Texas” in the closing hours of the legislative session on May 30, 1977. Governor Briscoe signed the bill June 16, 1977.3 Another notable event, was the first time both the scientific sessions and the TMA House of Delegates met together under one roof. This gave the delegates a chance to spend more time in the exhibit hall and to attend the scientific sessions as well as gave members a better idea of how the business of TMA is handled by the House of Delegate. Dr. Voltz explains in his May 1975 President’s Message, “This will be an excellent opportunity for BCMS members to attend the reference committees, and if you don’t know what a reference committee is, then this is the time to participate and find out!” 4

Current Events during his time on the Board • 1973 Last US troops leave Vietnam • 1973 Dallas Chaparrals basketball team moves to San Antonio and changed name to Spurs • 1974 Two Italian gynecologists create the blunt tunneling technique known as liposuction • 1974 First vaccine for chicken pox developed • 1975 Lila Cockrell, wife of the BCMS Executive Director, Sid E.

Cockrell, was elected the first female Mayor of San Antonio • 1975 DNA sequencing is born as researchers at Harvard and Cambridge simultaneously develop different methods for determining the sequence of bases in DNA • 1976 Apple Computer founded by Steve Jobs • Dean Kamen develops a portable insulin pump for mass market

Positions held in 1975

President of the United States, Gerald Ford; Governor of Texas,

Dolph Briscoe; San Antonio Mayor, Lila Cockrell and the Executive Director of BCMS was Sidney E. “Sid” Cockrell, Jr.

Dr. Voltz was born in Pittsburgh, moved to Tennessee when he was seven years old and attended the University of Tennessee. He earned his medical degree at 22 years of age. Dr. Voltz came to Texas in 1959 just out of residency. He joined the group at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital (CSR). His specialty was diagnostic radiology but also had a certificate in nuclear medicine. As a physician, looking back, one of the biggest hurdles was the change in separate billing. “The original way was that the hospital would bill and the physicians would get a percentage. Patients were not use to getting a bill from the doctor. This was a big nuisance because we then needed to provide collections for our services which took more time away from patient care.”

While in office, Dr. Voltz was able to get the administrators of all the hospitals to come to his house to start a blood bank. He said they would have their administration meeting, watch TV, chat all while giving blood. He said the funny part is that he often passed out during these meetings, because after donating the amount of blood they gave you were supposed to rest. At that time, he was the youngest BCMS President and thought he was “good”. There were other doctors that passed out ending the home blood drive meetings.

Dr. Voltz acknowledged the BCMS programs and presentations that occurred every week on different studies such as cancer, prostate, medical school scientific tests, estrogen positive or negative and so many more. They were informative, educational and a way to socialize with your peers.

How has medicine changed through the years? “As far as the therapies go, all we had was the old x-ray machine, and everyone said it burned them. If you got the right treatment, you got a reaction. In the years to come we got a Cobalt unit in the radiation center at CSR. The dedication of this very expensive, revolutionary advanced radiotherapy machine was done by Ronald Reagan. Former President Reagan was the spokesman for GE and spoke to the CSR radiologist specialist and staff, a couple of years before he ran for US President. The Cancer Therapy and Research Center was opened in 1974. We have seen so much working with a medical oncologist on what we can do for a patient and the combinations of therapy. With the newer machines and computers, we could better localize a tumor and therapy. We saw nuclear medicine go from a tiny Geiger counter to a big stress test machine. Radiology has changed so much. Dr. Voltz said that he has an aortic graph, hip replacement, hearing aids, stints, upper plates, and takes about eight meds. “People like me shouldn’t be 93 years old. When I was growing up anyone that was 65 was old. I am alive because of the innovations in medicine. Medicine keeps us all running.”

Dr. Voltz message to future physicians and membership, “Pledge us your time and your talents. Keep involved. The difficult can easily be accomplished. The impossible will take a little longer.”

References 1. The Medical News, Bexar County Medical Society, Volume 28,

Number 3, March 1975, page 4. 2. The Medical News, Bexar County Medical Society, Volume 28,

Number 7, July 1975 page 3 3. Texas Medicine Volume 73, July 1977 4 The Medical News, Bexar County Medical Society, Volume 28,

Number 5, May 1975 page 3

Dr. Voltz and wife enjoying the Auto Show event and the Elvis Impersonator

Monica Jones, BCMS Chief Operating Officer