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Pediatric patients
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This month, over 20 volunteers traveled to Haiti with Bridge of Life (BOL) and provided primary care services and chronic disease screenings to nearly 1,500 individuals in five different communities.
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Patient waiting for consult
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Families that have difficulty accessing regular and adequate medical care due to poor roads and a lack of transportation were seen for various medical conditions, including fever, parasites and infections. Patients were also screened for and received preventative education on chronic illnesses.
"The greatest impact from this trip for me was the people -- by far, the beautiful people of Haiti and their disposition despite their circumstances," said Dr. Genoveva Aguilar, physician with DaVita Medical Group.
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Dave Hoerman sets up a patient blood test station |
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This medical mission incorporated one of BOL's newest initiatives, a Community Health Worker (CHW) program, which recently launched in both Haiti and Nicaragua. The BOL team is working with
Dr. Peter Pierrot and the Double Harvest Clinic in Haiti and Dr. Luis O'Campo with Susie Syke Clinic in Nicaragua to train local CHWs on providing care to patients at risk of hypertension and kidney disease. P
atients identified as high-risk are enrolled in a chronic disease prevention program that is managed by trained CHWs.
"The CHW program was a game changer and boosted the team's morale," said Dave Hoerman, Chief Wisdom Officer of DaVita and member of BOL's Board of Directors. "As volunteers, we were confident knowing we would leave the Haitian patients with sustainable follow-up medical care."
