Today the last three of our patients are leaving King Faisal Hospital in good health. Vedaste and Samuson will be heading home here in Kigali, while Jean will be taken by Dr. Schulze, cardiologist, to Butare Hospital closer to his home town. The many obstacles that previously would have made this transition diffilcult have been facilitated with the availability of internet. Technology has allowed us to communicate and pass off patient information with ease and will allow us to provide follow up care as closely as we would back home. Patient history, lab results, discharge summaries, follow up echocardiogram results and medication lists are a few of the items listed.
This was initially proposed by Dr. Rawn, and thanks to John Connell my co-resident, my job was made easier in putting the information together to pass off to our colleagues here in Rwanda. We've even found a nurse who will be trained to oversee each patient's progress in regards to antigoagulation and follow up. It seems appropiate that today is also the first day of follow up for one of our first cases. Jean was seen by Dr. Bukhman today and is in good health. Dr. Bukhman will follow some of our patients and has been extremely helpful in helping organize each patients follow up.
On a personal note, although I did not get to be with the whole group, the experience was just as rewarding and at the same time inspiring. I have to thank Jo Fagan for her help with the patients during my last few days here and Leslie for a well thought out plan for me to be ready for whatever may happen. What once was a thought, maybe a conversation, is now a life-changing experience. Thank you all.
Above, Gene Bukhman provides follow up care to one of our patients.
