Salybia Mission Project - January 30th - Clinic

I'm in.

There had to be at least 60+ people crammed in the meeting room two weeks ago (for new members). Salybia Mission Project (SMP) hosts a clinic every other week. They only have room for 10 people per clinic and who gets to go is on a first come, first serve basis. They said when they were going to send out the official sign up email and I replied within seconds (heh).

I just got the confirmation email with some additional instructions and we go this Saturday. The clinical is an all day affair (8:00am - 3-5:00pm) and it eats up one of my weekend study days, but I think I'll be okay. The big first set of midterms is the Monday after next so I'll still have time to catch up.

Things to bring:

• A packed lunch and lots of water
  
• A stethoscope, BP cuff, or any instruments you have (otoscope, etc). But if you don't have these, we will pair you up with someone who does.
  
• A watch with a 2nd hand to take heart and respiratory rates.
  
• Pen, Paper, and clipboard if you have one.
  
• Umbrella (like always)
  
• Money if you want to buy bread or crafts. We usually stop at a bakery on the way there or shops on the way back.

(I have my old EMT blood pressure cuff and a $150 hand-me-down stethoscope from my mom (RN). I don't have an otoscope, hammer, pen light, and the rest of the physical exam toys. Those are for 3rd semester and I guess I'll have to piggy back off someone else.)

Here are more quotes and pictures from the SMP Website:

The backbone of SMP lies in the weekend clinic visits we conduct. The real mission of the organization is captured in these trips in which we “provide medical care to the indigenous people of Dominica.”



The clinic trips are open to SMP student members only, and usually take about 10-12 of such students. Led by at least one clinical coordinator, each trip departs from the Ross University School of Medicine library doors at 8AM of a particular Saturday morning. Transports leave and travel down the windy mountain roads towards the Atlantic coast for approximately 1 hour. Often, such trips make a pit stop at a local bakery in order to gather baked goods for the patients the students will see later.

Upon arrival at the Salybia Pre-School (where clinics are held), student volunteers are briefed by the clinical coordinator on duty. Vitals are practiced if need be, policies concerning how to approach patients are reviewed, and student volunteers are paired up.



Patients typically are waiting from long before the students’ arrival, anxious to see the physician and students. Nurse Sylvie Warrington also arrives before the student volunteers in order to open the setting and set up spaces for patient-student interaction. The pharmacist on duty also sets up accordingly.



Student pairs then begin their clinical experience with patients. For some, this may very well be the first such interaction in their professional, medical careers. They are asked to interview the patient, take vitals, and gather a complete history in preparation for overview by the physician, Dr. Worrell Sanford.

Once the patient’s turn has arrived, the student pair and the patient enter the “doctor’s room” where the students present the case at hand to the physician. Other students not directly involved in the case are also welcome to observe and participate. Diagnosis, treatment options, and other aspects concerning the case are openly and informally discussed, promoting a pure and unique learning experience for the students. Physical examinations and procedures are done by the students under the guidance of Dr. Sanford, providing them with valuable on-hands exposure they cannot gather elsewhere. Students are truly challenged in ways that ensure they know what they are getting into: the meat of medicine.

I'm not completely new to patient care, but I'm not that experienced and I've definitely never done anything like this before. I'm also curious to see how the other people are going to handle themselves. I know there are a bunch of EMTs and paramedics and at least a few nurses in my class (and at least one lawyer). I'm also interested to see if any upper classmen will be there, especially if they have had no patient care experience at all and just to see if "medical school" at Ross really prepared them.

(It's not like we're doing rotations here, but still. I'm a fan of human nature. When I can watch and learn something from a situation, I consciously plan ahead and make an effort to pay attention.)