As team of physicians, APP's, nurses and medics from Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, we will assist a local team of heal care providers to serve the indigenous population of Nicaragua. This is my first participation in what has been a recurring trip for others from my health institution to participated with an established health care service (Los Reyos de Esperanza) to this country. As medical director of multiple urgent cares here at AHWFB, my hope in participating - beyond the joy of serving- is to facilitate greater involvement from our team here to develop a longer partnership between our organizations.
Our patients will mostly be from rural communities of Nicaragua. In addition, we will assist the permanent health care team (Los Reyos de Esperanza) in expanding their connection to the region they serve. We will also participate in education modules and hands-on training with a local nursing school.
Objective 1 would be to address the immediate medical needs of the patients we encounter, and if further intervention is needed, connecting those patients with the year-round medical team for follow-up care.
Objective 2 would be to increase the reach and connection of Los Reyos de Esperanza with the region they care for in Nicaragua
Objective 3 would be to discover ways to facilitate greater participation from our US-based urgent care teams to be a part of future trips.
Our trip to Nicaragua in partnership with a long-established clinic with Los Rayos de Esperanza was a great opportunity to further their service to the community by coming alongside their teams of local providers. Our team consisted of mostly urgent care and emergency department providers with flexible clinical skills that can be taken anywhere, so it was easy to integrate into their care model and go wherever we could be of help.
Our first day of clinical work involved screening and routine care for the 100+ children who attend the Ninos de Luz school affiliated with Los Rayos de Esperanza along with their families. Our remaining days of clinical work were in conjunction with the community health workers sponsored by Los Rayos who serve the many surrounding barrios in which we were able to provide follow-up for their established patients. These ‘pop-up’ clinics were hosted by generous families within these neighborhoods who provided space for us to meet with and care for the patients. Any urgent follow-up was provided by the full-time physician affiliated with their clinic.
Our final day of work was spent at local nursing school, Universidad Martin Lutero, to give small group classes on acute care management and triage skills.
Our team loved being an extension of the local mission there and being a part of established care programs. This was also a great team-building trip for a group of providers who work together here in the states and hopefully will be part of an ongoing partnership to serve this community.
