Hi, this is Jonathan writing. We have been here a month! As you can tell from previous updates, we have been busy. Keith, then Matt were here to help us get settled in and open the clinic. We could not have done it without them. The clinic has been open for 2 weeks now. We are open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 - 2. We saw 284 patients during clinic hours and 13 emergencies after hours. We had 2 births at the clinic. As word got out, the second week was much busier than the first week. We averaged 20 more patients a day during the second week. Next Wednesday we are planning on having a prenatal and vaccination day at the clinic. Nurse Carmina is spearheading the prenatal class and the MSPP (think health department) nurse for this area will assist with vaccinations.
One of the ongoing challenges is obtaining medications. Due to gang activity, the road to Port au Prince is extremely dangerous and we are not able to go purchase medications ourselves. God has opened several doors and we are now using agents to purchase meds from Port and also the Dominican Republic. Hopefully we can keep using these resources and expand on them as needed. Not being able to go to Port means we are not able to offer an ambulance at this time. We can recommend patients go to hospitals in Port, but we aren’t able to take them. There is a small hospital and 2 clinics in Fond Parisien, just outside the gang-controlled area. At some point we hope to be able to take patients that far, but they would still be responsible to go to Port on their own.
My previous experience in health care was at a large University trauma center in upstate New York. To go from having all the resources to the limited resources we have here is a challenge. Friday night we had a patient in respiratory distress secondary to heart failure. We were able to start treatment and stabilize with oxygen and the simple BiPAP we have. But then what? We can’t just admit to the ICU like at home. We got her set up in the little house beside the clinic. After being there all night she was able to go home in the morning. It is a change to have to think, not just as an emergency nurse, but as primary care as well. Having Carmina here to teach me how things have been done is a tremendous benefit. Also, the clinic board has been very helpful with suggestions and advice.
The biggest challenge is the language barrier. It is frustrating to not be able to talk to people. Simple things like figuring out a price in the market or taking a history in the clinic. Also, it can be funny. At least the Haitians think so! We have been taking Creole classes twice a week, but progress seems slow. Outside of the clinic, we are settled into our house and becoming used to living here. Quentin and Christelle have been a huge help with this. Overall, we are doing well and have much to be thankful for. Thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t do without it!