CardioStart

MISSION SUMMARY

Arequipa and La Joya, Peru

September 18-30, 2006

Much was accomplished during CardioStart’s 36^th mission.  Forty-two volunteers from five countries came together to work in Arequipa and La Joya, Peru.  Mission leaders included:

Jodi Gunther, RN                    Mission Director

Aubyn Marath, MD                  Medical Director

Sue Shepard, RN                   Nursing Director

Therese Murphy, RN              Outreach Director

The following highlights the work done by this dedicated team during the 2 week mission:

HONORIO DELGADO HOSPITAL, Arequipa

Seven formal classes were taught to the nursing staff and medical students with at least 50 people attending each day.  Classed included:

• Basic Life Support
• EKG’s: Arrhythmia Identification
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Use of Vasopressors
• Dialysis and the Renal Patient
• Ventilation Modalities; Endotracheal Tube Suctioning

Informal instruction was provided at the bedside in the following areas:

• Over 200 nurses were trained throughout the hospital on bag-valve mask ventilation
• Neonatal & Peds nurses were taught how to use IV pumps and tubing that were donated by CardioStart
• Neonatal nurses were taught how to use the scales that were part of the Isolettes

ICU nurses were taught:  

• Swan-Ganz use and nursing responsibilities
• Volume resuscitation and hypovolemic shock (secondary to bleeding)
• Set-up and maintenance of an “Atrium” chest drainage system
• Standardized inotropic drip concentration calculations and guidelines for mixing medication were outlined
• Documentation on nursing vital signs, intake/output, labs forms developed by CardioStart
• Family-centered care (i.e. visiting in the ICU, updates on plan of care and condition)

Each of the 5 patients operated on provided an opportunity for focused teaching.     The local surgical team and ICU nurses were fully involved in all cases with CardioStart volunteers at their sides providing support and education.

Additional Hospital Support

• CardioStart assessed the hospital’s plans for a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and made recommendations concerning design, equipment, electricity, plumbing, etc.
• CardioStart responded to a request for the hospital’s Dialysis Department to assist them in obtaining equipment to expand their services.  On this mission, volunteersassessed their needs and donated much needed supplies.

OUTREACH PROJECTS:

LA JOYA, PERU

The local healthcare officials in La Joya, on CardioStart's advice and support, are building an emergency room for their clinic.  During the September 2006 mission, CardioStart volunteers initiated training for the clinic’s nursing and medical staff and provided equipment to be used in the new emergency room.  The availability of this emergency room will dramatically alter the chances of survival for those who are seriously injured in this rural region. 

CardioStart volunteers accomplished the following in La Joya, Peru :

• Twenty-eight nurses and doctors from the La Joya clinic and surrounding area clinics were certified in adult and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• CardioStart held a health fair for the community of La Joya with over 600 attending.  During the fair the people of La Joya
• Had their blood pressure taken
• Were taught about and given thermometers
• Learned good hand washing techniques and were given hand soap to take home
• Learned about appropriate use of analgesic medications and were given acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Learned good dental hygiene and were given new toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste
• Children at the fair were given school supplies, small games and books

CardioStart volunteers purchased new kitchen supplies for the Senior Center in La Joya including a radio, blender, soap, several large stock pots, forks, knives, spoons as well as potato mashers and baking pans.  The Senior Center was also supplied with staple foods such as a huge sack of rice, lentils, sugar, oatmeal and frijoles which is a more expensive bean that will add much needed protein to the seniors’ diets.  La Joya officials have committed to building a permanent structure for the seniors to replace the current dirt floor, open air location they currently use.

CardioStart volunteers successfully taught 12 Peruvians in La Joya how to build & maintain water filters.  The Peruvian volunteers successfully built a new water filter at the Senior Center.  Two science professors at the Institute of Technology, along with their students, will continue to test the water at the pre-designated sites throughout the year.   The water filtration project is an on-going project in La Joya started by CardioStart in 2005

WOMAN’S SHELTER, Arequipa

CardioStart volunteers returned to the Casa Hogar de Maria Woman’s Shelter to continue its work there including:

• Repairing the roof and cleaning a bathroom so that second floor rooms could be utilized
• Purchasing a refrigerator and donating it to the shelter
• Donations from CardioStart volunteers including several suitcases of clothing for mothers and children, fabric and sewing items (for the sewing machines donated during the March 2006 mission), assorted baby items, children’s books in Spanish, personal hygiene products, school supplies and toys.

ORPHANAGE, Arequipa

CardioStart volunteers returned to the orphanage adjacent to the woman’s shelter to continue its work there including:

• Purchasing a sewing machine (staff will be receiving sewing lessons)
• Donations from CardioStart volunteers including school supplies, diapers, toys, books, sewing items, medications such as Tylenol and vitamins

NEW HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME, Arequipa

The New Hope Home currently houses 37 children in a very poor area of Arequipa.  Some of the children are orphans while others have been separated from their families by the courts due to abuse or neglect. CardioStart volunteers visited the home to assess the medical status of some of the kids and donated 8 suitcases of items including clothing, toys, books, school supplies and personal hygiene items.   A cash donation was also given to the home to assist with their daily needs.  CardioStart hopes to assist the Home in the future through assistance in developing a carpentry shop for the youth to learn a trade.

FAMILY SUPPORT, Arequipa

CardioStart volunteers were deeply touched at the end of the March 2006 mission by the death of a patient who was head of a household and his family.  The volunteers decided to help this family in September by assisting them in identifying a way they could sustain themselves financially.  One of the volunteers, a 14 year old from the Chicago area, held a fundraiser prior to the mission and donated the funds she raised to provide a trade school education for the 17 year old son so he could support his family.