Surrounded by cement walls, topped with barbed wire, lies the public hospital of Jarabacoa. On weekends, only the pharmacy and emergency room are functioning, although it appeared that surgeons were on call.
Already I've noticed the privilege that is given to foreigners; I asked a man if the service desk was open today, of which it wasn't, but he insisted on guiding me past the line of patients waiting to enter the emergency room so that I could speak with the receptionist there. Although he took me past the gate, where a man directed traffic flow, I insisted I wait my turn in line. I am now prepared to better manage this in the future.
I didn't have to wait more than ten minutes, as there weren't too many patients in line ahead of me; in that short time, I noticed a woman admitted with a diabetic emergency, a young man with a bandaged foot, and a boy with what appeared to be a respiratory infection.
The concept of patient privacy here in the Dominican Republic is quite different than that of patient privacy, as enforced by HIPAA, in the U.S. Only thin curtains make the entrance and divide sections of the emergency room, and conversations with the receptionist are easily overheard by others waiting in line.
No doctors are available for questions or for shadowing (to make observations) on the weekends, but the receptionist at the emergency room desk said I should return Monday morning, when it opens at 8:00 AM, to arrange a meeting and/or shadowing with a doctor.
I hope to soon find a translator that I can work with until mid June, when a friend of my professor can help with the project for the rest of the summer. Anxious to see what Monday brings.
Already I've noticed the privilege that is given to foreigners; I asked a man if the service desk was open today, of which it wasn't, but he insisted on guiding me past the line of patients waiting to enter the emergency room so that I could speak with the receptionist there. Although he took me past the gate, where a man directed traffic flow, I insisted I wait my turn in line. I am now prepared to better manage this in the future.
I didn't have to wait more than ten minutes, as there weren't too many patients in line ahead of me; in that short time, I noticed a woman admitted with a diabetic emergency, a young man with a bandaged foot, and a boy with what appeared to be a respiratory infection.
The concept of patient privacy here in the Dominican Republic is quite different than that of patient privacy, as enforced by HIPAA, in the U.S. Only thin curtains make the entrance and divide sections of the emergency room, and conversations with the receptionist are easily overheard by others waiting in line.
No doctors are available for questions or for shadowing (to make observations) on the weekends, but the receptionist at the emergency room desk said I should return Monday morning, when it opens at 8:00 AM, to arrange a meeting and/or shadowing with a doctor.
I hope to soon find a translator that I can work with until mid June, when a friend of my professor can help with the project for the rest of the summer. Anxious to see what Monday brings.