Day one in Arequipa: asking as many questions as I possibly could about how Health Bridges International‘s partner clinic in Alta Cayma operates. This research will serve two purposes: extensive background for how MobilizeMRS might be useful, as well as assessing resources for intra-clinic collaboration.
A little background. The catchment area for the clinic in Alta Cayma includes 30,000 to 35,000 people. From this population, the clinic saw 22,000 visits in the past year, with between 15,000 and 17,000 unique patients. Recorded number of visits to the clinic is increasing at a rate of 4,000/year. The clinic is pretty well resourced, according to Wayne of HBI, with a team of physicians (rotating 5, not all full time), dentists (2), nurses (9, not all full time), pharmacy (4), management (2), and two specialists, a psychologist and opthamologist. Essential medications are provided through a Catholic charity program and they can get most others through donations. Where the clinic lacks is primarily in specialization, health education, and patient care advocates.
