Friday, April 24, 2009

more photos of hospital

Here's a photo set I found of the hospital (not at its most photogenic) where I work, from back in Sept. when the docs at the hospital were on strike to get the minister of health to resign.

And, the article in peru.21.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

escandalo

So yesterday, the news crews and reporters were all over our ID ward at the hospital. My nurse called me to tell me they were filming and interviewing . . . though the chief of our service refused to talk to them.

Last night on the nightly news the story was on the local stations, apparently my nurse was even on tv (I tried to watch but fell asleep early). Today it was in all the papers, including the big national paper, El Comercio. They reported that there was a staff outbreak and that a resident and a psychologist were diagnosed with TB, and that it was the fault of the poorly maintained ventilation system. They asked for the resignation of the hospital director, as well as for a hospital emergency to be declared.

Today some people from the ministry of health came by as well as the chief of internal medicine.

Lots of local politics that I don't want to get involved in . . . wonder when this will be solved. In the meantime the ID service is not accepting any TB patients.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

cholitas playing golf

Thanks to my friend Karthik for this fabulous article in the Guardian.

Back from cusco with the fam. Mom and dad are off to Arequipa and a 3 days trek through colca canyon. Rachel is with me in Lima until thursday when she jets to Sao Paolo, and I'll meet mom and dad on friday in Puno to head to Lake Titicaca for a couple of days.

Love this country, but mentally ready to go home. I've pretty much eaten my way around the Peruvian menu and I'm ready to go home to my food, my haunts, etc. I will definitely miss the friendly faces, the surfing, and the sunshine. Luckily I'm heading back just in time for summer . . .

heading back to Boston in just over 1 month.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

google maps peru

google maps has finally got a good version of lima going.

so, to celebrate, i live here:


View Larger Map

Friday, April 3, 2009

outbreak?

So a few of the docs at work are sick. One of the residents from last year has confirmed TB. The psychologist has TB. The current senior resident has new nodules on his xray and CT and additionally has fevers.

Obviously, this is kind of a problem. Luckily the chiefs are taking Rahm Emanuel's advice to "never let a crisis go to waste" and are pushing the hospital admin and the government to do something about the barely working mechanical ventilation, upkeeping the UV lights (does a great job at killing TB), and building an outdoor waiting room for the outpatient service so that patients don't all catch TB waiting to see the doc (natural ventilation is actually superior to mechanical in dissipating TB).

Aside from my concern for the patients and their families, nurses, doctors, volunteers - it's a tough spot for the study since we won't be able to start any new patients anytime soon.

And mom, don't worry, I'm wearing my N95 mask.