. — Change is as much a part of a business atmosphere as any other integral aspect and in the past half year or so Pauls Valley General Hospital has been far from an exception.

When Abraham Cherian, respiratory care manager, was hired Nov. 15, he not only had to adjust to a new medical environment, he was asked to see how his department could be used to help see through the betterment of patient/hospital relations for the long term. He believes changes being requested aren’t just a good idea for making ends meet, but a part of a new direction in treatment across health care itself.

“We are always looking at what we do now and how to improve,” said Cherian. “Medicine is always changing and it is becoming more evidence based.”

Cherian’s presence at the Hospital could also be seen as inspirational for immigrants finding their way to the American Dream, being a native of India himself. He has spent 26 years in the states and has not tired of the opportunities to help people, especially in environments like Pauls Valley where corporations don’t dictate how patients are treated.

Before coming to Garvin County to work, much of his previous career was at the Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City through the University of Oklahoma. He started there in 1987 and really got into the respiratory area through projects like a breathing device for infants with severe cases. There was a period of time as well where he worked at the hospital in Purcell, which helped him get used to the smaller hospital environment.

“This part of the state is much easier for me now because of work experience at Purcell,” said Cherian, who added that he was simply looking for a full time position of any kind in medical field when he applied at PVGH. “It’s a pure coincidence that I ended up here because I did not even think I’d be in a management role.”

Cherian’s education is always ongoing since he is a member of the American Association for Respiratory Care, which requires him to complete about 12 credit hours every two years to remain current. His education before that included respiratory studies at Francis Tuttle in Oklahoma City and becoming a therapy technician through the California College for Health Sciences in San Diego.

Daily duties for Cherian since he has arrived has been to make sure all the current policies that need to be are in place and to make sure the ones that are already around meet needs of direct patient care. He also deals quite a bit with medical records and makes rounds occasionally, checking on the patients themselves.

“Most everybody is very caring, enjoying what they are doing,” said Cherian. “It’s a balancing act and I’ve had to adjust my thinking process moving from large hospitals to small.”

For now, Cherian still commutes from Oklahoma city where his kids live, but he has not ruled out moving closer to the area in the next couple of years. If there was one goal for his career for the long term, he noted that it would be to provide well organized care and offer all the types of respiratory technology that is available in the field.

Cherian said in the mean time he will enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the community, while still meeting the demands that come his way. The key to making that happen is that everyone cannot be lumped together and that their different circumstances keeps things compassionate.

“I’m a people person, I’m not just looking at physical needs,” said Cherian. “They are not just an object, but a person going through sickness or difficulty.”