Arriving at his office just before 10 a.m. every morning — the beloved 87-year-old Dr. Russell Dohner begins to see his patients one-by-one as he has faithfully done for almost 60 years.
These days Dr. Dohner charges patients $5 per visit — compared to the $2 fee charged when Dohner began practicing medicine in Rushville, Illinois back in 1955.
“I always just wanted to be a doctor to help people with their medical problems and that’s all it’s for,” the lifetime family physician says. “It was never intended to make a lot of money.”
The amazing thing is that Dr. Dohner, who sees his patients only on a first come, first-served basis — gets up before 7 a.m. each morning to make rounds at the local hospital before arriving at his office.
He has no use for computers or fax machines either — in fact, Dr. Dohner keeps his medical records on hand-written index cards packed tightly inside a wall of filing cabinets.
You should also know that the good doctor doesn’t accept medical insurance — convinced that it’s just not worth the bother. Dr. Dohner told The Associated Press that he intends to maintain his practice as long as he possibly can.
“As long as I can make it up here, I’ll help if I can,” says Dohner, who has no plan to retire.
He is a rarity for sure, serving several counties in small-town Illinois — working seven days a week without taking a vacation in 50 years.
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