Day 6, April 10,2013

Today was a very busy day. Surgery, ceremony, lectures, rounds, clean up and put away equipment.

We started with the surgery. We elected to do 3 cases today due to the busy schedule. That brought the total for the week to 17.  Dr Wind started the surgery day, doing the first 2 cases while I was over at the  celebration ceremony and lectures. Today there was much more participation by the hospital staff in the OR.  They performed much more of the circulating nursing role. The residents were scrubbed in surgery and  more involved. It was great to experience.  The OR staff are starting to come along like the  nursing staff on the 4th floor.

While the first 2 cases were being done, I was over at the main auditorium at the medical school. There was a gathering of about 200 people, press, hospital administration, medical and nursing students, and residents and faculty. First there was a formal recognition of the 4th surgical trip and the delivery of the semi truck of equipment (including the new sterilizer, thank you Mr Wittine) The were news paper and tv interviews, as well as speeches. Mine was delivered in poor spanish.  Once the ceremony was finished, we gave a series of lectures. Dr Embry spoke on the preoperative evaluation of the orthopedic patient, Dr Norton spoke on the difficulties of delivering anesthesia in the obese, and I spoke on hip replacement in the obese patient. The best received lectures were given by Sheila Gaffney and Kori Holmes. They spoke on therapy and nursing of knee replacement patients and therapy for amputation patients.  Sheila spoke in flawless spanish. It couldn't have gone better.
Oh, and since it was Dr Norton's birthday, the entire room sang the spanish version of happy birthday to him.

While the final talks were given, I returned to do the final case of the trip and then team began the clean up. Everything was put away and inventoried by 4pm! Time to return to the hotel, have a cerveza or two and get ready for the hospital sponsored final dinner.
At 7 pm we got on the bus, went to an Argentinian restaurant and stuffed ourselves. Lots of laughter. Those still standing went out to the karaoke bar to regale the locals with horrible singing.

As I looked around at this incredible group of people, I am reminded of where we started less than 2 years ago and how far we have come. It would have been impossible without their hard work, their experience and their passion for the care of the disadvantaged.
I am proud of their accomplishments and privileged to work with them.