Dr. Arienne Darcy (arienne_darcy) wrote in sparklediaries, @ 2010-07-14 13:21:00 |
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Current mood: | determined |
Current music: | Bond, "Kashmir" |
Worthy Causes (Arienne, Open)
Who: Arienne Darcy, Open
Where: Java Cup
When: Wednesday, July 14, around 4pm
Why: meeting new characters and whatever fun comes of it
What: Arienne is struggling to get medical supplies to three badly-in-need clinics in the area; her conversation offers several clues as to her character and dilemma.
Warnings: None really
“No, Abby, I’m telling you, we’ve got an emergency down here.” Set up in a far corner of the coffee house, parked behind her laptop and a stack of medical-supply catalogs, Arienne Darcy followed the alarming proclamation at her teleconference screen with a soft sigh. She’d been there an hour, downing coffee and chocolate treats she’d cough up later, but which paid her way for the wi-fi she needed so desperately now. She had spent a week on the road, going from clinic to clinic to supply center, only to discover a dire situation. Now, she was thirty miles from the office, and fighting the close of business hours. Her conversation the whole time had been quiet, businesslike, as unobtrusive as she could make it—but the topic of conversation was unnerving enough to grab attention. She frowned at her assistant’s ruefully-smiling face on her screen. “If I turn in these figures, County Health will look like—well, they are neglecting the poor, aren’t they? It’s just that plain.
“Three community clinics at perhaps ten percent supply stores. No, not just blood. Everything. Ringer’s. Bandages. Durable goods. The Reservation clinic’s the worst of the lot. They’re closed half the time because of lack of supplies, and it’s an hour to the nearest hospital from there. Aren’t we supposed to be sponsoring them?” A pause as she listened to the soft buzz of her assistant’s voice. “No, Abby, I’m serious. After looking at all of this, I can’t sit by and let things go on unchanged.
“I want you to talk to Finance and ask them if we can directly use new donor funds to buy supplies through our purchase orders. Otherwise I can’t get the wholesale price. What—why? Look. It’s clear we’ll need another grant or four just to cover funding those clinics properly, but in the meantime, how do we stopgap? I’ll tell you. I’ll use part of my down payment for my own bloody house, and spend another year in an apartment. No, again--thoroughly serious. I’ve thought about it all week. Come on, Abby. We’re doctors, not bureaucrats or business drones. I’m not in this for wealth.
“Look, can you get the PO authorization or not? Otherwise I won’t be able to buy anything.” Another pause as she listened to that buzz again. “Very well, then. Why don’t you find out and dial my cellular? If I don’t get an overnight order out tonight, the Reservation clinic will be closed down for the week by tomorrow afternoon.”
Conversation done and signed off, she sighed and tugged off her grey kid gloves, massaging the bridge of her nose with milk-white fingers. “I’ll count my wealth in lives saved, thanks.”