And that's LIFE!
Trip Start
Jan 29, 2011
1
12
31
Trip End
Feb 26, 2011
Licey al Medio, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The morning started off with breakfast at 8:00 as usual. Guava jam on bread, swiss/american tasting cheese, watermelon and eggs with ham. After breakfast, we had some free time until 10 am when we met to go to the city to visit Dr. Morel. As we were driving down Cayo 27 de Febrero (the day of Dominican Independence from Haiti), we looked onto the other side of the traffic and there were no cars. Instead, there were men walking with signs. They were
Dr. Morel is on the Board of Directors for the ILAC program. He is a radiologise who owns his own building that staffs 4 radiologists besides himself and the latest CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and ultrasound equipment. Each radiologist does his or her own exam and then reads and writes a note. It's pretty amazing how different the job descriptions are here. This place charges $30.00 USD for a 4D ultrasound. This is about $300.00 in the states. Their MRIs are about $300.00 and in the states they cost thousands. Most of the price cutting happens because there are no techs and no residents to pay. Amazing!
This doctor is a very driven man who is trying to help the ILAC center grow. Dr. Gray discussed with him the possibility of creating a union of one of the city hospitals and the ILAC program so that patients who have surgery (hysterectomy) can stay overnight and not have to worry about the cost or going to Cabral (the public hospital) for their surgery.
After our table discussion, we left to go back to the ILAC center. We took the ILAC bus again and we weren't getting anywhere due to the protests. So, we took the long way around and got back just in time for lunch. I took a fifteen minute nap before lunch because I was exhausted. Lunch was a meatloaf with gravy dish and rice and beans and bread.
After lunch, we were supposed to go to Centro Leon to check out the cigar factory and to check out the cultural museum. Instead, as we were waiting for the guagua, we were informed that the guaguas were protesting as well and there was no public transportation into the City. So, we ended up seeing patients in the clinic!
THAT is why we had a Domincan day - "si Dios quiere" If God wants it. We paired up and saw three patients a piece. All three of our patients were cooperadoras. I was paired with Amy, another of my classmates, and together, we muddled through our patient interviews in Spanish. For the most part, we did ok and when we couldn't understand the patients, we called for the interpreter. We got to do complete physical exams, did pap smears and vaginal exams. We wrote notes in the chart as well!
Basically, today I felt USEFUL for the first time in months and was glad to be back in the clinic for the first time since November. The time beore that had been in July. I was on cloud 9 because when I was doing the interview, I felt at home. I LOVE being a Doctor. Truly LOVE it!
I was very thankful that my exam skills had not gone anywhere and they came back naturally like riding a bicycle.
After clinic, we were exhausted. We spent about 4 hours seeing 3 patients a piece. the dinner bell rang and we ate dinner! Delicious lasagna, boiled tayote and onions with carrots and watermelon. After dinner, we had about 20 minutes before we had to meet up for a Helado Bon trip! We hired the driver we had last time and went to for Bon goodness! This time I got the Dulce de Leche and Chocolate ice cream in a cone! It was delicioso! We all sat and chatted and had a few laughs and then hopped back on the van to the ILAC center.
As soon as we got back Father Bill had his examen session and we wen to that. Then, I changed into scrubs and took my laundry down to clean my clothes. Then , I went to take a shower - the evenings are cold and I need about 2 hours for my hair to air dry so I won't freeze at night! Now, I am updating my blog!
Tomorrow evening we have been invited to see Paseo Fino (fine prancing horses) at this horses club with a dance floor and restaurant! We are excited to be able to go! During the day we will be seeing patients - number UNKNOWN. Hopefully we will be ok and not too tiring!
~M
