I didn't expect this to happen, especially not after three weeks working at el subcentro de salud San Pedro. But this weekend, Ariana (the other student from El Nomad) and I were asked not return. Not because of anything we did or did not do, just because there were too many international students at the subcenter and they didn't think it was fair to the other students not to give them a chance to see how the subcenter works. So on Satuday, we stood dumbfounded and unsure of what would become of our last week.
Luckily, El Nomad is run by some awesome people, and they were able to get us a new placement that we started today (Tuesday). So we arrived at el subcentro de salud Tandacatu to meet the new medical staff we would be spending 4 days (from 8 am to 1 pm) with. Even though it means starting all over, it is definitely interesting to see how another subcenter works. Here are just a few of the differences that I noticed today:
San Pedro serves almost 12,000 patients; Tandacatu serves a little over 4,100.
San Pedro employs 2 doctors, 2 dentists, and 2 nurses; Tandacatu has 1 doctor, 1 dentist, and 2 nurses.
San Pedro was full of students (5 ecuadorian and countless international); the only students at Tandacatu are me and Ariana.
The patients of San Pedro are spread out all over a semi-rural area; Tandacatu is in the city, between my neighborhood and el Centro, and the patients live very close.
Tandacatu is smaller, more organized, and run much more efficiently.
Tandacatu is staffed entirely by women, which lends it a totally different atmosphere.
And this was just today. And these are only some of the differences. And this doesn't include the similarities. Here are a few:
Both places are often out of important medicine that their patients need.
Both places run similar if not identical community outreach programs.
Both places take stern attitudes with patients who do not follow "doctor's orders".
This week will certainly be a different experience in compared with the last three. It is difficult to get comfortable with and understand the routines of a place in 4 days, much less get to know the staff at all. But I think it will be for the best, not matter what happens, because I came to Ecuador to experience the health system and what better way to do that then see both the more rural and urban patient populations and clinical settings. So here's to new and unexpected experiences!
Luckily, El Nomad is run by some awesome people, and they were able to get us a new placement that we started today (Tuesday). So we arrived at el subcentro de salud Tandacatu to meet the new medical staff we would be spending 4 days (from 8 am to 1 pm) with. Even though it means starting all over, it is definitely interesting to see how another subcenter works. Here are just a few of the differences that I noticed today:
San Pedro serves almost 12,000 patients; Tandacatu serves a little over 4,100.
San Pedro employs 2 doctors, 2 dentists, and 2 nurses; Tandacatu has 1 doctor, 1 dentist, and 2 nurses.
San Pedro was full of students (5 ecuadorian and countless international); the only students at Tandacatu are me and Ariana.
The patients of San Pedro are spread out all over a semi-rural area; Tandacatu is in the city, between my neighborhood and el Centro, and the patients live very close.
Tandacatu is smaller, more organized, and run much more efficiently.
Tandacatu is staffed entirely by women, which lends it a totally different atmosphere.
And this was just today. And these are only some of the differences. And this doesn't include the similarities. Here are a few:
Both places are often out of important medicine that their patients need.
Both places run similar if not identical community outreach programs.
Both places take stern attitudes with patients who do not follow "doctor's orders".
This week will certainly be a different experience in compared with the last three. It is difficult to get comfortable with and understand the routines of a place in 4 days, much less get to know the staff at all. But I think it will be for the best, not matter what happens, because I came to Ecuador to experience the health system and what better way to do that then see both the more rural and urban patient populations and clinical settings. So here's to new and unexpected experiences!
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