The PazSalud (PeaceHealth) annual Medical Brigade is an amazing journey. I would recommend this for anyone who is interested in “stretching” him or herself personally, professionally, and spiritually. With 21 Northwest comrades (majority PeaceHealth employees) under the gifted leadership of Kathy Garcia and Sister Eleanor Gilmore, this experience allowed me the opportunity to provide care to people with few healthcare resources, understand the immense challenges of providing healthcare in a country with a poor healthcare infrastructure, to appreciate with pride the wonderful work that people like Sister Eleanor and Kathy do with the support of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace and PeaceHealth. I would love to share my experiences with you so feel free to stop me and ask about the trip. The following are a few excerpts from my journal:
(Monday) “Hmm…not as tired as I thought I’d be and am discovering that I know more than I thought. My Spanish stinks. I’ll be better tomorrow.”
(Tuesday) “Saw 50-55 patients today, some very difficult cases especially due to lack of records, poor education, and language barrier. So many headaches, back and muscle pain, GI complaints, amebiasis, suspect a cluster headache case. Cured some elderly hearing problems with earwax removal. A 94 year-old with perfect skin, heart and lungs of a 70 year old, she said her mother lived to 115 years.”
“Spanish is better. Am as tired today as I was when I was an intern.”
Ron Stock MD and Lauren Herbert MD
Ron consulting with a
patient
Visiting Archbishop
Romero's house
(Wednesday) “The people are so patient…waiting 2-3 hours to see Elena (my translator Elaine Rees, PHMG transcription) and I for about a 10 minute visit. We try to make it special for them by formally introducing ourselves and making some brief social non-medical exchange.”
“The clinic saw 587 patients today.”
(Thursday) “Every day is busy. What strikes me is that I think we’re actually providing pretty high quality care despite significant limitations due to lack of diagnostic tools and medications. It is reassuring that we can still use our history and physical exam without diagnostics to determine most diagnoses, or at least a reasonably short differential diagnosis.”
(Sunday) “It is an odd, humbling feeling to walk among these people as an American. Suchitoto (village North of San Salvador) was bombed, people were murdered in the churches, most fled to the mountains in the north and the National Guard occupied the village, all supported by American dollars. How could they ever forgive us for supporting such shameful violence? Yet they welcome us, feed us, appreciate the work we do for their people. I guess they also know that the “people” don’t always represent the views of the government.”