Volunteer Medical Team in El Salvador
In a world where medical technology and access to care are constantly improving, it can be easy to overlook the struggles of medical care in developing regions. I came to find that underserved areas tend to lack access to even the most basic medical care. As I journeyed into my medical career, I traveled through Central America and the West Indies to volunteer. My destinations were usually small villages and underprivileged communities with medical clinics that were never well equipped or fully staffed. In these villages, I found a passion for rural medicine.
While performing house calls in the village of Las Brisas in El Salvador, I met a woman named Rosa who changed my perspective. Rosa was one of our diabetic patients who was severely in need of wound care. As is common in underserved areas with a dearth of medical practitioners, Rosa chose not to take her diabetes medications because she was unsure why they were prescribed. After a few years of accepting her illness, but not adhering to treatment, Rosa acquired several deep pedal ulcers. The village doctor cleaned them every few days, but eventually recommended she see a specialist.
Rosa refused to follow up with the referral because her friend went to the specialist to have ulcers treated and she returned to the village as a double amputee. Rosa feared the same would happen to her and she would become a burden to her family. Unfortunately, by the time Rosa expressed her reasoning for failure to comply, her disease had progressed and she would likely need both limbs amputated. It was incredibly discouraging that this situation was completely preventable, if only Rosa had received a thorough consult and diabetes education.
Underserved communities are not as far removed from home as I had originally thought. Fortunately, some podiatrists make time to serve their local underserved communities. One example is Dr. Holly Spohn-Gross, an outstanding role model of dedication to underserved communities. Dr. Spohn-Gross focuses on preventative care as a mainstay of her practice. Members of rural communities frequently postpone consulting a doctor until a significant problem arises. Therefore, providing patients with the information needed to actively participate in their own medical care is vital for maintaining a healthy community.
At Western University School of Podiatric Medicine, we are taught that education is a powerful component of effective patient care, and time spent educating a patient can change the course of their wellbeing. Thoughtful communication should be considered an essential tool in the prevention of disease progression, such as in Rosa’s situation.
Rural areas are desperately in need of compassionate physicians. Many disadvantaged patients would flourish under the care of providers who are willing to educate patients to take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Underserved communities can be found overseas, as well as here in the United States. I encourage both practicing podiatrists and students to expand your horizons, while enabling underserved patients to expand theirs.
Article written by Laura-Ashley Przondo, CPM class of 2019