MEDRIX
P.O. Box 2588
Woodinville, WA, 98072
USA
July 20, 2001
Dear Professor The, Professor
Thang, Professor Phu, and Mr. Tuyen,
It is a privilege for me to
write on behalf of the MEDRIX Summer 2001 Team. Dr. Robert Wills, Mrs. Patricia Wills, Mr. Robert and myself want
to thank you and your excellent staff for the honor of once again working with
your nurses and doctors. We have found
the time here at Hue Central Hospital to be challenging and rewarding.
The Mission of MEDRIX is to
serve the people of SE Asia. The Vision
of MEDRIX to provide quality medical, education, and development resources and
international exchange of information and personnel.
·
In June of 2001 MEDRIX
provided a scholarship for International Exchange for a physician from Hue
Central Hospital to Seattle, Washington for the international conference of
APIC.
·
In July MEDRIX provided
Medical and Educational support and assisted in the development of resources
for Hue Central Hospital. Below you
will find a summary of the activities from July 9 through July 22, 2001 in Hue,
Vietnam.
Five subjects were requested
this year for the Medical and Nursing staff.
We were able to complete three classes.
1. English Medical Terminology for Physicians and
Nurses was offered with a very good response from your nursing staff and a
moderate response from your physician staff.
Approximately 31 nurses and physicians attended daily. The classes varied in persons attending
depending on their work schedule.
2. Care of the Patient with Renal Disease was also
offered with an attendance of approximately 19 students daily. The class was offered at the request of Hue
Central Hospital in partial preparation for Renal Transplantation which, is
scheduled to take place in September of 2001.
3. Modern Techniques of ECT, including aspects of both
psychiatry and anesthesiology was offered for approximately six hours.
Approximately 11 persons, doctors, nurses and a technician were in attendance.
4. Infection Control in the Community and Hospital was
not offered. Information regarding
infection control for the hospital was integrated into the Renal course. In addition:
5. CPR for the Health care worker was also not
offered.
Infection Control in the
community and CPR were not offered because the Renal Class took longer than the
anticipated 6 days. Renal was taught
for 8 days instead of 6. In addition,
it was agreed that CPR which was to be offered on Friday and Saturday (July 20,
21) was cancelled due to the need to complete the Renal course and the prior
CPR training of Hue Healthcare staff.
Equipment, medications and
supplied totaling $57, 201.00 USD were hand delivered by the four team members
of MEDRIX. A bill of lading was given
to Hue Central Hospital prior to this summary.
Collaboration has begun
between Hue Central Hospital and MEDRIX for the preliminary work of
establishing MEDRIX as an NGO under the arm of Hue Central Hospital. MEDRIX is grateful for this assistance and
will supply the necessary required information needed to submit a request for
NGO Level 1 or Level 2 status.
MEDRIX’s strong commitment to
assist local communities in establishing clean and safe water supplies has been
enhanced by the assistance of Hue Staff.
The Pediatric Department and the Administrative Departments have been
active in establishing contacts and possible involvement of MEDRIX for the
future.
The Pediatric Department
presented a proposal for the consideration of the MEDRIX Board for “follow-up”
care of patients both at Hue Central Hospital and in the Community (see attached).
The Medical/Nursing University
at Hue has also presented a proposal for the consideration of the MEDRIX
Board. They proposed a temporary
teaching position in the Spring of 2002 be considered. The suggested subject to be taught would be
Pediatrics.
Dr. Robert Wills, Medical
Director of MEDRIX, set the following goals for his participation. He would:
1. Provide a modern Electro-Convulsive Therapy unit
donated by MECTA, INC. to the Depart of Psychiatry, Hue Vietnam.
2. Teach physicians and nurses modern techniques of
ECT, including both psychiatry and anesthesiology in the training sessions.
3. Demonstrate the application of these acquired
skills in the treatment of appropriate psychiatric conditions.
4. Encourage the use of these new skills for all patients
who meet the medical criteria for Electro Convulsive Therapy.
RESULTS:
1. Dr. Wills lead three training sessions on the
modern use of ECT which totaled six hours. Staff from both the Department of
Psychiatry and Anesthesology attended.
2. He attempted to demonstrate the MECTA ECT
Unit. However, due to equipment failure
the demonstrations were simulated and not fully demonstrated.
·
It is believed that the ECT
Unit was damaged in transit from USA to Vietnam, possibly due to rough handling
at the airports. After consultation via
phone to the MECTA Company and after a thorough review of the operation manuals
the MECTA ECT remained inoperable. At
that time the Hue Central Hospital BioElectrical Engineers were asked to repair
the equipment. Unfortunately they too were unable to repair the unit.
·
Dr. Robert Wills will hand
carry the MECTA unit to the donor/MECTA Company for repair and re-routing to
Hue Central Hospital.
3. Demonstrated the Thymatron ECT Unit for interim use
until the MECTA Unit can be repaired.
4. A portable Cardiac PAC monitor was given to the
Department of Anesthesia for use with the ECT patients. It was again expressed that anesthesia and
muscle relaxants be given to ECT patients and that cardiac monitoring be
routine during the ETC procedure. The PAC monitor may be used by Anesthesia
during the time/s that the Department of Psychiatry and Anesthesia are not
using it to monitor an ECT patient.
PROPOSALS:
1. Advanced training of a psychiatrist and an
anesthesiologist in the modern application of ECT for patients at Hue Central
Hospital.
·
Support by MEDRIX and other
agencies for “International Exchange” to the United States for training and
post-graduate education.
·
Collaboration will only serve
to assist the Psychiatric Staff of Hue Hospital in providing modern and safe
care of the psychiatric patient.
2. Institute Lithium blood testing. Lithium carbonate tablets are produced in
Vietnam They are inexpensive and continue to be an imporant medication to
stabalize Bipolar and Post ECT patients.
Lithium blood levels assure safe dosing. MEDRIX has requested information on equipment costs for this
test.
3. Encourage consistent and responsive communication
between the Hue Central Hospital and the personnel of MEDRIX. Open communication will provide optimum
benefit for future collaboration, medical, education and international
exchange.
Thank you again for the honor
of working together. We look to the
future as we serve the peoples of Vietnam together.
Sincerely,
Robert Wills MD
Patricia Wills, RN, MEd
LaRelle Catherman RN, MSN, PHN
Robert Catherman MS
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