My translator and I began our day in the public hospital just before it opened at 8 AM, along with the mass of patients seated and standing in the waiting room or crowded in front of the two windows to the registration office. After half an hour of waiting, learning how class registration and semesters work at the college here in Jarabacoa from my translator, the Sub-Director introduced us to the Doctor of Epidemiology in charge of the emergency room.
He showed us the waiting room for the ER, about a 12' by 13' space, which connects to a bathroom, room for suturing, and the triage. The triage is where each patient that comes to the ER is diagnosed and classified - except for emergencies that are brought immediately into ER.
We talked a while with him, leaning against the desk in the waiting room, as patients intermittently consulted with him. I learned that the #1 cause of death in this country is road traffic accidents ... which doesn't come as much of a surprise.
Almost no one wears a helmet, often weaving amongst other motorcycles and vehicles. Honking anytime one approaches an intersection, gets near another vehicle, or sees pedestrians waiting to cross the street is a way of communicating 'I'm here, don't get in the way.' Speeding on motorcycles is not uncommon, especially with younger drivers. Drinking and driving is also an all-too-common occurrence. It's this mixture that clearly writes a recipe for danger ... and accidents waiting to happen. Most of the trauma patients the ER sees are young male drivers.
Just this week, 4 boys were killed in an accident here in Jarabacoa. The ER has three ambulances to dispatch and treats most of the trauma cases here in the ER, but very severe cases are brought to the trauma center in La Vega.
The doctor will give us more of a tour of the facility tomorrow and answer more questions. I hope to dig deeper into the capacity of emergency care here in the hospital and any difficulties doctors may have in providing quality care to their patients. Cuidese, y hasta la próxima.
He showed us the waiting room for the ER, about a 12' by 13' space, which connects to a bathroom, room for suturing, and the triage. The triage is where each patient that comes to the ER is diagnosed and classified - except for emergencies that are brought immediately into ER.
We talked a while with him, leaning against the desk in the waiting room, as patients intermittently consulted with him. I learned that the #1 cause of death in this country is road traffic accidents ... which doesn't come as much of a surprise.
Almost no one wears a helmet, often weaving amongst other motorcycles and vehicles. Honking anytime one approaches an intersection, gets near another vehicle, or sees pedestrians waiting to cross the street is a way of communicating 'I'm here, don't get in the way.' Speeding on motorcycles is not uncommon, especially with younger drivers. Drinking and driving is also an all-too-common occurrence. It's this mixture that clearly writes a recipe for danger ... and accidents waiting to happen. Most of the trauma patients the ER sees are young male drivers.
Just this week, 4 boys were killed in an accident here in Jarabacoa. The ER has three ambulances to dispatch and treats most of the trauma cases here in the ER, but very severe cases are brought to the trauma center in La Vega.
The doctor will give us more of a tour of the facility tomorrow and answer more questions. I hope to dig deeper into the capacity of emergency care here in the hospital and any difficulties doctors may have in providing quality care to their patients. Cuidese, y hasta la próxima.