Walk With Dr. Christie: Day 1, Spring Trip 2013

Day 1, April 5, 2013

It has been a great day. Scheduled 15 patients for surgery in Oct. The clinic ran smoothly, not quite as well as at home, but good enough that I wasn't talking to myself until 3 o'clock. Things are going very smoothly, the semi truck full of equipment got here on time and uneventfully. Everything intact. Donna Lawhon did an amazing amount of work on the front end, organizing and inventorying, so it made it so much easier here in Veracruz. The advance team had the semi unpacked in a few hours, and thanks to Donna's packing efforts, the unpacking went great (or so I am told, since I was wise enough to be back in Nashville while the real work was being done.) So far, it has been the smoothest, easiest, bestest beginning ever. Each trip we have been better and more organized, and most rewarding, the hospital has gotten measurably better. I feel our greatest impact and the most good that we can achieve will be in improving what the hospital personnel accomplish in their day to day work day. Our team inspire excellence, and the hospital folks have responded.
Derrick Allison and Carlos Castillo have been working their asses off in Central Processing. CP is the heart of every hospital. Under appreciated, CP is what the area that makes everything the hospital does possible. They process (identify,sort,wash, and sterilize every non disposable instrument) every sterile tool that is used in the hospital. If they aren't great, then infection and failure is the result. They are critical and invisible at the same time. Derrick and Carlos have been making a difference, teaching, demonstrating, coaching, and inspiring. 4 days of effort, load after unsterile load, until this afternoon, when finally they figured it out and the instruments are sterile. Saviors of the mission, we can proceed with surgery as planned, with the bonus that the folks down in CP now know the recipe of the secret sauce and all the instruments used in the hospital are sterile and safe for use in surgery.
If you ask where we have made the greatest difference, affecting the most patients, it will be because of the efforts of Carlos (the Puerto Rican Doctor) and Derrick down in CP.
More amazing news. Thanks to the efforts of Eric Wittine and our friends at Steris Corp, the hospital has a new (refurbished) steam sterilizer. The difficulties faced by C and A have been due do to old, decrepit, and broken sterilizers. We brought a 'new' one on the truck. Not installed yet, it should make the Oct trip much easier. Thank you Eric!
As I write this, I am moved by the amazing people that make this possible. The people back home who help raise money, our friends and patients who donate time and money, the people who volunteer at the warehouse and the incredible people who have come with me to Veracruz. I am humbled by their efforts and inspired by their passion. I have the Best Job in the whole world.
Tomorrow we start the first cases of this trip. It is going to be another great day.