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- Nov 10, 2006
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I have a passion for working in developing countries, and would eventually like to be able to do both short term trips on the scale of weeks to maybe longer terms like months-year.
I've been to Africa with a EM doc and some nurses. We saw hundreds over patients, but I honestly dont know how much of a difference we made in just a few weeks. Most of those people had chronic issues like HTN, diabetes, etc which we cannot just give 1 pack of meds and just leave them. Some had some minor cuts and bruises.
Not to be negative, but can general practioners such as FM and IM really make a significant difference without staying there for years? What kind of docs are really needed in developing countries?
I am now thinking that surgeons and their teams can be quite useful providing emergent surgeries, but how much can a primary care doc really do?
I've been to Africa with a EM doc and some nurses. We saw hundreds over patients, but I honestly dont know how much of a difference we made in just a few weeks. Most of those people had chronic issues like HTN, diabetes, etc which we cannot just give 1 pack of meds and just leave them. Some had some minor cuts and bruises.
Not to be negative, but can general practioners such as FM and IM really make a significant difference without staying there for years? What kind of docs are really needed in developing countries?
I am now thinking that surgeons and their teams can be quite useful providing emergent surgeries, but how much can a primary care doc really do?