Wooster Community Hospital wows visiting Honduran medical workers
WOOSTER - While watching a demonstration of a delivery room bed's moveable parts at Wooster Community Hospital, Dr. Marith Lopez's eyes widened. "Wow," was all she could say.
The obstetrics doctor visiting from Honduras also was impressed with the hemorrhagic crash cart in the Akron Children's Hospital's special care nursery at the Wooster hospital.
"Just give me one of the hemorrhagic crash carts and one of the delivery room beds and I'm happy," Lopez said with a big smile.
Lopez was touring the hospital with Lourdes Hernandez, an administrator, to help them learn ways to improve their hospital in Honduras.
They also visited Aultman hospitals in Orrville and Canton last week, and this week are focusing on areas of particular interest at the three hospitals.
"It will help us strengthen our different processes," Hernandez said. "... In the hospital, I know everyone has a responsibility, but this tour and this time has helped us to organize better the responsibilities from the top to the bottom."
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Because Hernandez and Lopez speak little English, Kathy Tschiegg, founder and executive director of the Orrville-based CAMO (Central American Medical Outreach), translated.
Tschiegg contacted the hospitals to ask them to set up the tours and times to talk with many of their administrators. CAMO paid for the two-week experience.
Central American Medical Outreach has been helping in Honduras for the past three decades
For the past 30 years, Tschiegg has been helping improve the hospital in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, where Hernandez and Lopez work — as much as she and CAMO can.
"I think it was interesting that they were in disbelief of the things we were telling them about how bad it is," Tschiegg said about describing to WCH employees how poor the health care is in Honduras. "They were like, 'You're in an impossible situation, it's crazy.'
"I think that's important because sometimes we forget there's another world that exists outside of us," Tschiegg added. "We believe our world is a normal world. Our world is not a normal world. We live above 90% of the world in many areas, so I think I saw that realization (from WCH staff)."
While Wooster Community Hospital uses state-of-the-art delivery beds, Lopez delivers babies on beds that are rusted, Tschiegg said.
Out-of-date equipment isn't the hospital's biggest problem, Tschiegg added. Keeping supplies causes more trouble.
That's why the hospital in Santa Rosa de Copán hasn't been able to use a dry erase board to keep track of out-of-stock items like Wooster's hospital does in its clean storage room.
"Their system is a nurse runs to (Hernandez's) office and says they are out of something, so this is a better system," Tschiegg said while in the clean storage room. "But their markers get stolen."
Sheets, pillows and plates are a few of the many items that are stolen at the hospital, Tschiegg added while shaking her head.
Tschiegg said Hernandez put in a system where only doctors had access to supplies and stolen items were found in their offices.
"So it's also the doctors raping the system," Tschiegg said. "Everyone is fighting for supplies. We're getting a handle on it, but it takes years and years."
Tschiegg: Old equipment and mentors from American hospitals can make a big difference in Honduras
If other hospitals in the U.S. could help by donating old equipment and offer mentors, Tschiegg said, that could make a big difference for hospitals in Honduras and in other third-world countries.
"We need partnerships of big institutions in order to really take it where it needs to be," she said.
Until that happens, Tschiegg, Lopez and Hernandez agreed the tour of area hospitals is a step in the right direction.
"We've seen better practices than what we do," Hernandez said. "We have many limitations, but inside those limitations, there are still things we can do."
Angela Rincon, director of development for WCH, said the hospital was happy to help Lopez and Hernandez.
"How often is a smaller, community hospital able to host administration of a hospital in Honduras?" Rincon said. "This is a really neat, international experience for the hospital. I think everyone who I asked to participate was super excited and happy to assist. "
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Honduran medical workers impressed with Wooster Community Hospital
