St. Elizabeth's Hospital

This week I started working at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. The hospital was started as a dispensary in 1975 and due to problems in taking care of mothers and children it was found that there was a need to upgrade this dispensary to a hospital in 1984. This is the second largest hospital in Arusha. It has 120 staff, a capacity of 100 beds, and treats both inpatients and outpatients. It is the only hospital in Arusha with an ophthalmologist (taking care of eye surgeries and diseases). The hospital is in great need of IT training to become a "modern hospital."

Over the next 6 weeks, I will be training doctors and nurses on how to use a computer program called Telemedicine. This program provides access to expertise and second opinions in a matter of 24-48 hours and without the complications of patient referral to another institution. So when a doctor has a medical question, s/he can post on their case on Telemedicine and receive an expert opinion shortly after. In order for doctors to become comfortable using this program, I must first teach many of them basic computer skills like typing, using a mouse, and setting up their own email accounts.

Along with the IT portion, I am shadowing the doctors! For the next 2 weeks, there are 2 eyes, nose, and throat Belgium doctors volunteering at the hospital. These 2 doctors are incredible. Yesterday they performed 6 surgeries--removal of tonsils and adnoids for 6 children. I was able to stand in the operating room and watch every operation! I am so grateful for this opportunity (one that most medical students are not given until their 3rd year at university).

Although St. Elizabeth's hospital is one of the largest facilities in Arusha, it lacks medical staff and equipment. The Belgian doctors brought 2 suitcases full of medical supplies. Patients receive little or no medicine for pain. "Special K" is used as an anethestic (which has been outlawed in the States and Europe due to severe side effects). Patients' families must provide food and bedding for their sick family members. Overcrowding is a problem (not enough beds or recovery rooms). There is only one operating room and many doctors are not qualified to perform specialized surgeries. Also, sanitation is of question. Although every person who enters a surgical room must wear scrubs and a mask, doctors tend to walk freely in and out of the operating wing and are not concerned about contamination.

Today hundreds of patients visited the hospital for consultations from the Belgian doctors. All day the 2 doctors had to prioritize people's need for surgery. Most surgeries are performed on children because families prefer their children to receive care first.

Tomorrow there will be 6 more surgeries that I get to witness!