I was placed by UMN to spend my medical elective at Patan Hospital in Kathmandu, one of its 4 hospitals in Nepal. In the last 3 years UMN hospitals have treated over a million people and undertaken over 40,000 surgical procedures.
My usual day would begin with a 15-minute uphill cycle to work, weaving in and out of taxis, motorbikes, buses and the odd cow! The 8am doctor's meeting was spent discussing the new patients who had arrived overnight. I looked after a 6-bed bay with one of the Nepali interns who had just qualified. It was good to work together and devise our own management plans - he knew a lot more than I did about some of the more tropical illnesses that we saw!
The outpatient's clinic was truly "an experience". Two doctors shared one desk, There was no privacy and at times the onlookers would even add their own advice or do a bit of translating. Examining the patient sitting fully clothed was even more difficult. Many patients could not pay which meant that ideal treatments could not be given or more usually were given but for an insufficient period of time.
Each day would end with a team ward round. The registrar would review all the inpatients and more importantly all the management decisions we had made on our morning round!
I also observed community health projects that concentrated on 4 areas -: the TB and D.O.T.S. work, the building of wells, health education of women and the provision of immunisations for children. The rural community team's work concentrated on the education of health assistants based at various remote health posts.
One of the highlights of my elective from a medical point of view was the time I spent with the leprosy mission team. I have never seen such a good example of a multidisciplinary team working together.
I made many friends from all around the world, experienced various Nepali culinary delights and a bit of Salmonella for good measure. I saw a little of Nepal's beautiful country and enjoyed a never to be forgotten flight around Everest!
My usual day would begin with a 15-minute uphill cycle to work, weaving in and out of taxis, motorbikes, buses and the odd cow! The 8am doctor's meeting was spent discussing the new patients who had arrived overnight. I looked after a 6-bed bay with one of the Nepali interns who had just qualified. It was good to work together and devise our own management plans - he knew a lot more than I did about some of the more tropical illnesses that we saw!
The outpatient's clinic was truly "an experience". Two doctors shared one desk, There was no privacy and at times the onlookers would even add their own advice or do a bit of translating. Examining the patient sitting fully clothed was even more difficult. Many patients could not pay which meant that ideal treatments could not be given or more usually were given but for an insufficient period of time.
Each day would end with a team ward round. The registrar would review all the inpatients and more importantly all the management decisions we had made on our morning round!
I also observed community health projects that concentrated on 4 areas -: the TB and D.O.T.S. work, the building of wells, health education of women and the provision of immunisations for children. The rural community team's work concentrated on the education of health assistants based at various remote health posts.
One of the highlights of my elective from a medical point of view was the time I spent with the leprosy mission team. I have never seen such a good example of a multidisciplinary team working together.
I made many friends from all around the world, experienced various Nepali culinary delights and a bit of Salmonella for good measure. I saw a little of Nepal's beautiful country and enjoyed a never to be forgotten flight around Everest!
