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April 30th, 2010
The first things you notice are the roosters and dogs barking when you wake up; it sounds like you’re down at the farm. I was expecting Bob Evans Sausage for breakfast. Then you realize where you are.
When we got to the hospital, the line of patients went down the streets, the sheer numbers already dwarfed what we saw yesterday and we weren’t even in the front gate yet. The team was great and just stepped out and started working. The Scripps people showed up shortly later for additional help. We integrated better than expected, mostly because of a common bond of just wanting to help people for no reason other than they needed our help.
It’s a pretty powerful dedication I am coming to learn. Did a couple of cases in the OR, got a needle stick and thank goodness for the HIV folks – they had the patient’s HIV test back in 20 minutes (negative) and all was fine (after a rather unsettling few minutes). An acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) showed up at the door, had to take care of him.
University of Miami wouldn’t take him in transfer (seems to be common) because they were full. We need more acute care resources. Put him in the PACU for a while to control and then into one of the ward tents. No NTG (we need some sent down) but he is better. All in all a long but gratifying day, we took care of a lot of people and did good work.
This team is great.
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