The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is a medical society comprised of hospitalists that exists to promote exceptional care for hospitalized patients.
We were able to see over 250 patients (adults and children), including home visits to provide wound care, medications, etc. for those patients with paraplegia, blindness, or other conditions limiting their ability to leave the home. Other conditions treated include HTN, CHF, DMII, CAD/CVA, OA and other MSK conditions, and GU infections. We diagnosed arrhythmias with the ECG machine we donated to the clinic and educated patients on a variety of conditions, including starting patients on insulin. All the patients we saw were given 90d-worth of medications! Patients traveled miles to be seen in the clinic, some only to receive medications that they’ve been unable to afford for months. Compared to the resources we have available in the U.S., the services we provided there seemed minimal, but the patients repeatedly told us how grateful they were and that they were looking forward to us returning because many of them otherwise have no interaction with the healthcare system. It was humbling to see the impact of our work.
A few pictures are attached. One patient even returned to the clinic with mangoes for us to show her gratitude! We obtained permission from patients to take their pictures.
I am grateful to SHM for helping me make this trip possible!
