Guatemala Project by Dr Self
The town, Santo Tomas la Union, where construction of our home just completed and where we hope to begin clinic construction shortly is approximately 3-4hrs west of Guatemala City (depending on traffic in Guatemala City, etc.).
Here is a link to an animation of the clinic that our architect made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NxvNLR-BME
Zack's idea is an opportunity for Medicos to study Zack's process of design for a hospital and an OR with the intial focus on Surgical Family Medicine Obstetrics. Even in places where Surgical Family Medicine is needed, we seem to be running uphill against the standard subspecialty model.
In Ecuador the colposcope we donated was assigned to a gynecologist instead of bringing this serice into the family medicine residency. We pray to train family doctors in colposcopy, etcetera. In Argentine, Dr Ciari, who we trained, is reported to have become an ultrasound specialist no longer doing family medicine. Emiliano, correct me if I am wrong. Our training programs need to follow through and measure outcomes.
Surgical Family Medicine Obstetrics is our holy grail. Even now, I am unsure that either of the ultrasound machines in Ecuador are functioning. I hope they are, but VozAndes suggested that we donate the Shell ultrasound machine for use by their department of radiology. This may be penny-wise, but pound-foolish. Teach me to fish....Matthew
Another Medicos-Camellia goal is linkage to an accredited(WHO recognized) medical school in Guatemala. Quetzaltenango was supposed to be a rural medical school, and Dr. Norma Gonzalez may still be Dean there. This is very much a possibility in Ecuador and Nigeria. It has been accomplished in Venezuela. These are the places most likely to achieve our objectives of service through improved training.
The UVa trip was more related to short tem emergency medicine services. Am I wrong? Where do they go?
Index--Guatemala Project, SurgFamMedOB
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