A Typical Medical Mercy Team
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A Typical Medical Mercy Team

 

Medical Mission teams are multi-faceted and vary from trip to trip. Our typical team includes a Medical Clinic and an Optical Clinic to fit reading glasses. Special teams are organized to work in local hospitals to provide cleft lip/palate repairs or General surgery Clinics to help communities catch up on a backlog of hernia and other surgeries. We evaluate those needs for each trip and identify local hospitals that will partner with us to perform those surgeries. We may bring physical therapists to treat patients with musculoskeletal complaints. The Medical Missions Teams are as diverse as the needs identified.

GENERAL POINTS

Patients form lines outside the clinic quite early in the morning. They are registered with their name and address on the encounter card.  They then proceed to triage where a brief history and vital statistics are recorded. Afterwards, triage patients move to the appropriate waiting line for the service they need. Patients then receive their examination followed by spiritual counseling and then to the pharmacy. After receiving their prescription(s), patients are escorted outside the clinic to allow for optimal flow.

The above schematic is ideal in large sanctuaries, schools, or halls where we can utilize string and curtains to create cubicles, or to simply have enough space between examiners for comfortable patient examination. We also conduct clinics in schools utilizing classrooms and in villages which have both open and closed buildings. We use large tent coverings in some countries and hold the medical clinics outside, which gives us more space to work and see as many patients as possible. Each of our clinics is different but all follow the flow pattern described above.

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REGISTRATION

Our experience has taught us that numbered encounter cards need to be provided to registration in small increments throughout the day or ideally, before we arrive. Careful attention is paid to the flow of the clinic and backlog in the pharmacy or counseling area. Numbers from 1-100 are used for a two-hour block of time: 8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M.- noon, 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M., 3100 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. This allows us to better manage the large number of patients seeking care by increasing or decreasing the numbers in proportion to the number of examiners available. Local ministry helpers, local pastors, and the missionaries disperse the numbered cards so that they may follow up with those who are in most need.

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TRIAGE

The triage nursing area provides a greet function by gathering a brief history and checking vital signs on patients. Automated blood pressure cuffs allow rapid assessments in noisy environments. Two people staffing this area is ideal and if necessary, one can be pulled aside to assist physicians in performing exams or checking blood tests. Documenting allergies and current medications greatly assists in the medical evaluation and enhances patient care safety.

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WAITING AREAS

There are often large multitudes of people seeking medical care and waiting lines for each area can be lengthy. Adequate seating areas are arranged using chairs or benches to allow an orderly and comfortable flow of patients waiting for the various phases of the clinic. Adjustments in the number of benches or chairs may be required to accommodate the optimum flow. If possible, finding an area out of the elements is ideal. Public health issues such as dental care, hygiene, and nutrition can be taught while the patients are waiting.

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MEDICAL CLINIC

Since each examiner moves at a different pace, one general waiting line is preferable to individual lines for each examiner. Forming lines in this manner allows the next patient in line to see the first available examiner. Each examiner in an efficient medical mission clinic with minimal paperwork should be capable of seeing over 60 patients per day, a pace of about eight patients per hour. There have been times when we have been able to examine twice that number in an hour.

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OPTICAL CLINIC

The optical clinic requires an area with adequate lighting. Having tracts or a Bible in the local language will allow the examiner to test the reading glasses on each patient. A small kit with needle and thread or a similar object can also allow testing for those who are illiterate.

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SPIRITUAL COUNSELING

Medical Mercy believes that spiritual counseling is inherent in the medical care we provide. Ideally, the local churches that are participating will have their pastor(s), elders, deacons, and most mature church leaders present and actively counseling. We look to the missionaries for guidance on how to best proceed in this area.

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PHARMACY

A pharmacist and assistants will set up, supply, and distribute medications. It is imperative that traffic flow in and out of the pharmacy be minimal as this area tends to be a center of attraction. Efficiency mandates the area be kept clear of extra non-essential staff or visitors. All medication is purchased in advance, pre-packaged in unit dosing and labeled.

SUPPORT STAFF

Necessary.

  
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