F.O.R. - Friends Of Rudy


ANNUAL REPORT

FRIENDS OF RUDY NICARAGUAN HEALTH, INCORPORATED

OUR MISSION

To bring medical aid to the great numbers of impoverished people in Nicaragua who have limited access to health care, while sharing medical techniques with our local counterparts.

JANUARY 29 THROUGH FEBRUARY 6, 2010

WHEN OUR TEAM WAS IN NICARAGUA IN 2008, ILANA KUTINSKY, DO, DISCOVERED SEVERAL YOUNG ADULTS WHO NEEDED RHYTHM RESTORED TO THEIR HEARTS.  WITH THE BLESSING OF FOR NICARAGUAN HEALTH, SHE INITIATED A PROJECT SHE NAMED:

RESTORE THE RHYTHM (SALVANDO CORAZONES) SAVING HEARTS

CONTINUED TO FLOURISH FROM ITS INCEPTION IN AUGUST, 2008, IN BEAUMONT HOSPITAL, ROYAL OAKS, MICHIGAN, TO THE INTRODUCTION OF ABLATION EQUIPMENT AT THE MILITARY HOSPITAL,  MANAGUA, NICARAGUA IN FEBRUARY, 2009. DR. K CHING MAN WAS GREETED IN MANAGUA IN JANUARY, 2010 BY ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO HAD RECEIVED AN ABLATION  DONE BY DR. CHING MAN IN MICHIGAN.     

EMMANUEL  HAD BEEN RELEGATED TO A SEDENTARY LIFE BY THE IRREGULARITY OF HIS HEART RHYTHM.  AT THE MANAGUA AIRPORT EMMANUEL PRESENTED DR. CHING MAN A FIRST PLACE MEDAL HE HAD WON IN A RACE. EMMANUEL WORKED WITH US FOR THE WEEK IN GRANADA AT OUR ALABAMA GRANADA CLINICA TRANSLATING FOR OUR GROUP. 

IN 2010 THE GROUP FROM MICHIGAN REASSEMBLED THE ABLATION EQUIPMENT AT THE MILITARY HOSPITAL IN MANAGUA.

MILITARY HOSPITAL

RENE DARCE, MD:  MEDICAL DIRECTOR

HUGO ARGUELLO, MD:  DEPUTY DIRECTOR

INFORMATION BY ILANA KUTINSKY, DO

ABLATION TEAM FROM MICHIGAN

information supplied by Arthur T. Mize and Dr. Machado CHRISTIAN MACHADO, MD,  K CHING MAN, MD, TIM MCELROY, TECHNICIAN,  DANNY HOLMES, RCIS, ARTHUR T. MIZE, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST

13 PATIENTS WERE EXAMINED

EP STUDIES WERE DONE ON 12 PATIENTS

12 PATIENTS RECEIVED ABLATIONS

1        PATIENT RECEIVED A SINGLE CHAMBER ICD.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WAS SUPPLIED BY MEDTRONICS, BOSTON SCIENTIFIC, BIOSENSE AND SAINT JUDE.

CENTRO NACIONAL DE CARDIOLOGIA, AND HOSPITAL ALEMAN, MANAGUA

NELSON SALAZAR, MD.  DIRECTOR
information Supplied by Randy Stephens, 

JOAQUIN G. ARCINIEGAS, MD, CARDIOLOGIST, ALABAMA

R. JESSIE  STEPHENS,  DSM  ALABAMA

   SURGERIES PERFORMED
 MEDICAL SUPPLIES CAME FROM MEDTRONIC

   12    DUAL CHAMBER PACEMAKERS  IMPLANTED

   1        DUAL CHAMBER DEFIBRILLATORS

   1        BIVENTRICULAR DEFIBRILLATOR

CENTRO NACIONAL DE OFTALMOLOGIA (CENAO), MANAGUA

FRANCISCA RIVAS, MD.  DIRECTOR

RETINA SURGERY

RICHARD FEIST, RETINOLOGIST,  ALABAMA
 Information provided by Dr. Feist

CLAUDIA AYALA, COA, ALABAMA

WILLIAM GOGGANS, OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIAN, ALABAMA

JACK FEIST, ALABAMA

PROCEDURES PERFORMED

 14    VITRECTOMIES
ALL WERE DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH DOCTORS TEACHING AND TRAINING AT (CENAO)

MEDICATION DONATED BY ALCON  

150 DOSES OF AVASTIN USED TO TREAT NUMEROUS RETINAL BLOOD VESSEL DISORDERS

25 DOSES OF SILICONE OIL

OVER 25 DOSES OF “HEAVY LIQUID” TO REPAIR COMPLEX RETINAL DETACHMENTS.

25 VITRECTOMY PACKS  THAT CAN BE USED  FOR SEVERAL SURGERIES

HOSPITAL AMISTAD JAPON- NICARAGUA, GRANADA, NICARAGUA

YELBA LOGO,  MD:      DIRECTOR

JOSE SANTOS MEZA, MD:    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

OPHTHALMOLOGY

MICHAEL ALSTON CALLAHAN, MD,  ALABAMA
  Information provided by Dr. Callahan

SUPPLIES DONATED BY ALLERGAN, ALCON, MAP INTERNATIONAL CYNACON-OCUSOFT 

JOHN PARKER, MD. ALABAMA

   MARK DRABKIN, MD. CALIFORNIA

   JOHANNA RAMIREZ,  MD  GRANADA
 
  LEANDRO CHAMORRO, MD. MANAGUA

ANESTHESIA:

JERALD CLANTON, MD, ALABAMA

 

JOE STOWELL, CRNA,  NORTH CAROLINA 

BIOMETRY

LYNN GUZMAN, KEITH HODGE, SCOTT CHRAMER(Videographer) ALABAMA

TRANSLATORS:  

ANA MUNOZ ,  CALIFORNIA

 

LAURA CANTERA, NEW YORK

VOLUNTEERS

BONNIE PARKER, ALLISON PARKER, ALABAMA

KELLY MILLS , NORTH CAROLINA

APPROXIMATELY 250 PATIENTS WERE SEEN IN OPHTHALMOLOGY CLINIC

59 SURGERIES

 

42 CATARACTS, 5 CORNEAL TRANSPLANTS, 9 STRABISMUS, 1 PTOSIS,

 

1 CANCER OF THE EYE, 1 HYPHEMA (TRAUMATIC BLEEDING IN THE EYE)

 

OPTOMETRY

 

PATTI FUHR,  OD, PH.D, ALABAMA

Dr. Fuhr provided information

 

JEROME D. POTTS, OPTICIAN (RETIRED) FLORIDA

 

GREGORY L. KANE,  OD  FLORIDA

 

ABIDIN YILDIRIM, PH.D  ALABAMA

    SATURDAY OPTOMETRY SCREENED PATIENTS FOR OPHTHALMOLOGISTS.

700 PATIENTS WERE EXAMINED AND 660 PAIRS OF GLASSES WERE DISPENSED.

30 SPECIAL PRESCRIPTIONS WERE PRESCRIBED.

 

ProVision, VOSH INTERNATIONAL CLINIC IN MANAGUA, HELPED WITH ARRANGEMENTS , PROVIDED GLASSES AND MADE SPECIAL PRESCRIPTIONS. 

GASTROENTEROLOGY

W. ROGER CARLISLE, M.D. F.A.C.P.,   ALABAMA

Information provided by Dr. Carlisle 

 

ROSSENBERG DUARTE, MD  GRANADA

GUILLERMO GOMEZ, MD. GRANADA

ESTHER ARGUELLO, MD  GRANADA

I spent much time training Roberto Balladares on new and basic techniques of upper GI endoscopy.  I collaborated with the doctors and felt that most of my beneficial efforts involved current and ongoing medical education. 

 

PROCEDURES PERFORMED

29 UPPER GI ENDOSCOPIES

1        COLONOSCOPIES AND POLYPECTOMY

 2 FULL COLONOSCOPIES

1 BANDING VARICEAL BLEEDER

1 VARICEAL BLEEDER

WE DID 8 COLLABORATIONS WITH ENT DOCTORS

PATIENTS REFERRED FROM ALABAMA GRANADA CLINIC WERE EXAMINED, ALTHOUGH THEY HAD LITTLE SIGNIFICANT PATHOLOGY, THEY DID HAVE SEVERE SERIOUS ONGOING SYMPTOMS.  I FELT THE VERY GOOD AND CAREFUL EVALUATION GAVE PATIENTS BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SYMPTOMS AND HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR DISEASE IN THE FUTURE.  GIVING THE PATIENTS CLEAR INFORMATION AND REASSURANCE SEEMED TO MAKE A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFERENCE IN MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING. 

LACK OF SPACE FOR RECOVERY AND LIMITED ANESTHESIA CAUSED BY LIMITED OXYGEN SUPPLY CONTRIBUTED TO PATIENT DISCOMFORT.

ONE COLONOSCOPE AND TWO ENDOSCOPES WERE BROKEN.  I USED THE ENDOSCOPE THAT I BROUGHT FROM THE STATES. 

BACK UP LIGHTING WAS DISCUSSED AND ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO RETRIEVE THE 2 ENDOSCOPES AND COLONOSCOPES FOR REPAIR IN THE UNITED STATES.

 I BELIEVE ONGOING EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VITAL PART OF HEALTH CARE IN NICARAGUA

GYNECOLOGY CLINIC  

SIREESHA Y. REDDY,  MD, NEW YORK

DIANE MARIE KOBER,  RN, BSN,  NEW YORK

TRANSLATORS

ADELA LACAYO, GRANADA

 

LUCIA LACAYO, GRANADA

PEDIATRIC CLINIC

LaVerne Ramsey supplied information 

BONNIE MATTHEWS,  MD. MASSACHUSETTS

BRYANT BENSON,  MD.MASSACHUSETTS

SUSANNE GOKEY,  RN, MASSACHUSETTS

 LAVERNE RAMSEY, ALABAMA

MELISSA PARKER, ALABAMA

REBECCA PARKER, ALABAMA

VOLUNTEER TRANSLATORS FROM GRANADA

THELMA CHAMORRA

MELISSA CHAMORRA

ADELA LACAYO

Drs. Matthews, Benson and RN, Susanne Gokey

were in the Pediatric Clinic daily,  examining and prescribing for 335 children.

 

MARY EILEEN McCORMICK, DO., F.A.A.P.  MICHIGAN

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST, supplied information

Dr. McCormick reported evaluating  approximately 75 pediatric patients.  She performed 2 pediatric neurological consults, one in Granada, one in Hospital La Mascota in Managua.  She taught her interpreter, Melissa Chamorra, during the daytime and was able to review cerebral palsy, seizures, autism, cognitive impairment and neurofibromatosis, and tuberous sclerosis.  She is following up on a child on whom she consulted with the parents  via email after reviewing brain MRI. Some discussion was held with Dr. Gerardo Mejia, the La Mascota director, of possible help with materials as well as training Pedicatric Neurology Residents.

DENTAL CLINIC

  Iradj Sooudi, DMD, ALABAMA
SUPPLIED INFORMATION

Although I spent quite a bit of my time at the hospital dental clinic to repair broken and nonfunctional dental equipment, with the help of our engineers, we were able to provide dental service to the people of Granada.

I was assisted by 2 local staff dentists and the interpreter, Dr. Carla Chavez, whose presence made a major difference in our service to our patients.

Three dental students observed our services.

Eighty three patients were seen.

Fifty three were females. 

six consults.

39 oral prophylaxes,

38 extractions,

11 fillings involving 19 surfaces,

 1 dental impression,

1 TMJ disorder consult and

3 misc.

Unfortunately lack of or breakdown of the instruments and equipment hampered our effort to be efficient.

ALABAMA GRANADA CLINIC

CECILIA BURGOS      DIRECTOR

OLIVIA SANCHEZ     RECEPTIONIST

GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ

NICARAGUAN DOCTORS

DR. RENE CASTILLO

DR. SCARLETTE HERNANDEZ (began working in clinic after brigada left)

INTERPRETER VOLUNTEERS

EMMANUEL ENRIQUE OSORIO SEDILES (MANAGUA)

JANET DE SANDINO  (GRANADA)

EURIDICE BERMUDEZ  (COSTA RICA)

LUIS HORACIO MONGALO ORTIZ (GRANADA)

THELMA MARIA GOMEZ (GRANADA) PROCESSED FORMS

 WED. THROUGH FRI.

 

UNITED STATES MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS

DR. NICK LOON, ENDOCRINOLOGIST/NEPHROLOGIST, SOUTH CAROLINA

DR. WEILLY SOONG, ALLERGIST, ALABAMA

DR. JON VACIK, EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR, MASSACHUSETS

JUDY LOON, CRNP, SOUTH CAROLINA

JANET REEVES, CRNP, SOUTH CAROLINA

LOWELL SMITH, RN  (NORTH CAROLINA) INTERPRETER

ABBOTT WILLIAMS, ALABAMA

CHERYL WILLIAMS, ALABAMA

CYNTHIA HODGES, ALABAMA

LORI FEIST, RN, ALABAMA

LAURI SOONG, ALABAMA

FRANCES OWENS, ALABAMA

 

A TOTAL OF 393 PATIENTS WERE TREATED AND MEDS PRESCRIBED.

 191 DIABETICS WERE EXAMINED BY DR. NICK LOON, JUDY LOON, AND

JANET REEVES.   

DR. LOON, WITH LOWELL SMITH AS INTERPRETER, CONTINUED TO TEACH

DR. CASTILLO TO EXAMINE AND PRESCRIBE FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS . 

4 DIABETIC PATIENTS RETURNED FOR RECHECK

202 NONDIABETICS WERE EXAMINED AND GIVEN THEIR MEDS.

AS A RESULT OF DISCUSSION OF U.S. VOLUNTEERS, INVENTORY OF MEDS IN THE PHARMACY WERE TAKEN.  OUT OF DATE MEDS WERE REMOVED FROM THE PHARMACY.

A PHARMACY COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED.

TRIAGE EXAMINATION SHEETS WERE UPDATED.

SHELVES IN EXAMINATION ROOM WERE CLEANED AND EXCESS SUPPLIES THAT HAD ACCUMULATED WERE REMOVED AND SHARED WITH HOSPITAL IN GRANADA AND A SMALL HEALTH OUTPOST IN NORTHERN NICARAGUA.

 KEITH HODGE REPAIRED EQUIPMENT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL IN GRANADA

 LARRY CLANTON, ELECTRICIAN (GEORGIA)

REVENTED AND CLEANED LINT TRAP IN  CLOTHES DRYER IN CLINIC.  FOR NIC HEALTH PURCHASED AND LARRY REPLACED CEILING FAN IN WAITING ROOM OF ALABAMA GRANADA CLINICA.

IN 2009 AT LA PROVIDENCIA, THE OLD FOLKS HOME, LARRY HAD PURCHASED, WITH HIS CONTRIBUTION AND THOSE OF SEVERAL  U.S. CONTRIBUTORS, A 110 DRYER TO BE USED IN THE RAINY SEASON UNTIL A 220 OUTLET COULD BE INSTALLED BY A LOCAL ELECTRICIAN FOR THE 220 DRYER.

IN 2010 LARRY DOUBLE CHECKED THE POWER SUPPLY TO ASSURE THAT THE 220 DRYER WORKED.

OUR GRATITUDE:
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL VOLUNTEERS

FROM: ALABAMA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK AND NICARAGUA.

WITHOUT YOU, OUR MISSION WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU BRING YOUR SKILLS, PAY YOUR OWN EXPENSES AND WORK IN SOMETIMES, FRUSTRATING SITUATIONS TO HELP THE POOR IN NICARAGUA.

TO ABBOTT WILLIAMS  and  CHERYL WILLIAMS, WHO WORK WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF OUR TRIP TO MAKE OUR

 “MISSION POSSIBLE”. 

 SPECIAL THANKS ALSO TO ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS, FOR YOUR DONATIONS

YOUR DONATIONS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR ANNUAL TRIPS TO BRING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR OF NICARAGUA.  YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE, RESTORE AND EQUIP THE ALABAMA-GRANADA CLINIC WHERE TWO NICARAGUAN DOCTORS, RENE CASTILLO, MD AND SCARLETTE HERNANDEZ, MD,SEE PATIENTS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

TO  MEDTRONIC FOR THE DONATION OF 12 PACEMAKERS AND ACCESSORIES.

TO BOSTON SCIENTIFIC

BIOSENSE

SAINT JUDE

FOR CARDIAC SUPPLIES 

TO ALCON LABORATORIES WHO KINDLY DONATED INTRAOCULAR LENSES, AND ACCOMPANYING SUPPLIES.    ALCON HAS AIDED OUR EFFORTS FOR 11 YEARS.

EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO SUPPLIED BY

ALLERGAN

MAP INTERNATIONAL

CYNACON-OCUSOFT 

TO BROOKWOOD MEDICAL CENTER AND CALLAHAN EYE FOUNDATION HOSPITAL FOR YOUR PRESENT AND PAST SUPPORT.

 TO ALABAMA EYE BANK FOR DONATION OF  CORNEAS.

 TO NATIONAL CENTER OF OPHTHALMOLOGY (CENAO) DIRECTOR DR. FRANCISCA RIVAS AND

DR. ABRAHAM DELGADO

TO NATIONAL CENTER OF CARDIOLOGY,

DIRECTOR, DR. NELSON SALAZAR

 TO HOSPITAL AMISTAD JAPON-NICARAGUA

YELBA LOGO,  MD:      DIRECTOR

JOSE SANTOS MEZA, MD:    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

 TO MILITARY HOSPITAL

DIRECTOR, DR RENE DARCE

DR HUGO ARGUELLOS,  DEPUTY DIRECTOR

CERTAINLY OUR THANKS ALWAYS TO:

SRA, FÁTIMA LACAYO de SÁENZ AND HER HUSBAND JAIME SAENZ.  HE IS ALWAYS CHECKING ON THE WELFARE OF THE CLINIC,

TO CECILIA BURGOS, OUR MANAGER,

GUSTAVO  GUITIERREZ

OLIVIA SANCHEZ     OUR RECEPTIONIST

WHO KEEP THE CLINIC FUNCTIONING ALL DURING THE YEAR.

THANKS TO THE NICARAGUAN VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY DURING THE YEAR WHEN WE ARE NOT PRESENT.
 

 

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