medical

Hey Guys,

It has been tough to find some time and really sit down and take a chance to write about what i have been able to see and do here. But this morning I will be waiting for our NGO contact and learning more about his role so I have a couple of hours to kill. I am happy about that because I think I need to do this in the moment.

To be able to see both sides of our programs is something that is not very common when we come here because you usually have a set program that is decided upon for you to view and manage. But, I had the opposite experience. Every other day I was at each program.

The surgical was so fast because of the efficency of the way that the doctors opperate. We don't really get a chance to rest because we are only here for a small amount of time so we have to work for as much time as possible. As of this morning we have seen 25 patients and there should be three this morning reaching a total of just under 30 people for this trip. You can compare the schedule and numbers to what this team would normally see in the US, which would be about 3 patients at most in the morning and then consultations during the rest of the day so about 15 total in a week if that.

Dr. Foltz, Sandy and Carlos have made the surgical program really become real to me. How is that? It was really a comment that Dr. Foltz said "Pure Medicine" he was referencing the feeling that he has when he returns to the states. Here when you see a patient they have most of the time lived with issues that debilitate someone but they have brought home a living regardless by doing some of the most labor intensive jobs. And, when they see a doctor you are able to truly transform a life, and the amount of thankfulness from someone is overwhelming! One women when she heard that Dr. Foltz was going to operate leaped from her bed and gave him the biggest huge. The amount of love from the patients is indescribable.

Having this as a reference point there were some conversations on what it takes to run a practice in the states and what the mentality is. I learned that in order for Dr. Foltz to even open his doors he has to have a $800,000 insurance plan, this is the yearly premium! This is before he even turns the lights on, the rent, the salaries etc.! Carlos described the risks of being an anesthesiologist, one of the examples truly stood  out in my mind was his story on what recall is. In his example he described if someone is in a major trauma like an extensive car wreck when they arrive to the hospital they are most likely expected to die. Say they do pass then everything is according to plan and yes it is a sad thing but at the same time it is expected. But, in the opposite if you save that persons life against all odds and as an anesthesiologist you can only use so much anesthesia because the victim most likely has a low pulse. And say they have recall of the surgery they can sue the doctors for the trauma! What! This person was pronounced dead, and because they saved his life they can be sued for recall! This really opened my eyes to come from a place where a person can come to tears because they are able to see a doctor, and then see a system where a lot of people look at WebMD and tell the doctor what to do! I have a new found respect for the profession, I did take a turn to negative town but it is something that has really impacted me. I still believe that education is important for patients but a new perspective on  the doctor is important.

This has made me so aware of so many issues and I have loved the lessons that I have learned