First Day at the Clinic

Usually I dread the first day at a new institution, because it usually involves having to review many policies.  Many of you know what I mean.  Orientation. 

However, we don’t write too many policies in the mission field clinic.  The dress code is quite liberating: modesty is good.  Street clothes fine.  Flip flops and wet hair work also.  There are no OSHA regulations and we keep all meds up to 5 years past their expiration date.  We can run our own CBC’s and Malaria tests.  We will sterilize all our own instruments.  In the space smaller then an average trailer in America we have most medicines a practice would ever need and most medical equipment ready to be lent out,  most basic tests (i.e malaria, pregnancy, strep, etc. etc.), suturing, IV’s, etc.  There is a great supply of reference books for diagnosing and prescribing. 

In the 4 hours I was there we saw the variety of: a sty, blood pressure check up and follow up, sore throat, complicated abdominal case, 3 or so skin infections, ears needing to be irrigated, well baby visit, etc. Also a pharmacist was visiting from America with some donated medicines.   It was intense, to take in the new environment.  Try to learn where all the supplies are.  And begin to understand the scope of this practice. 

I was in my element.  Yet once again, I am humbled by how little I know and how much there is left to  learn.  Bring it on!!!!