Two physicians, one nurse practitioner, one respiratory therapist, five nurses and one administrator set out early on Feb. 1. We arrived on Feb. 2, four flights later in Camp Perrin, Haiti. We were greeted by the organizers of the charity Nicholas and Madeline Avignon (Twin Cities and Haitian residents), one local physician and three translators. Feb. 3 we set up clinic in Lougou which is a rough, hour-long drive away. Next day, we opened our doors (no doors , just scouts with sticks allowing people in). We triaged patients. Many had old charts, some needed new charts. They waited for me. I did my assessment gave simple medications from my exam table. The rest I prescribed from our make shift pharmacy. The pace was grueling. I saw only forty to fifty people the first day. The patients were dressed in their best, very gracious and grateful.

But the next day, I picked up the pace and by day four we had seen 950 people with charts (probably 1,100 if you included those without charts). I saw newborns to ninety year olds, families of eight and singles, infections (head to toe), heart failure, hypertension, GE reflux, pregnancy, asthma, hernias, migraines, arthritis, anemia, fibroids and malnutrition.

I treated a man in status asthmaticus without a nebulizer; he did well. I treated a malnourished four-pound infant and I think she'll do well. I taught people how to rehab their grandmother from stroke and a young boy how to stop muscle wasting from a broken arm. One nurse gave a man is "annual" Foley catheter change. Surgical cases were listed and monies left over will pay for some to have surgery. We all consulted each other and all worked as one. Teamwork was amazingly effortless and the patient's care was absolutely the only concern.

It was not the 1,100 pounds of medications and supplies but the simple act of hope and compassion that transformed my outlook on life and service as a health care provider. I am calmer at work, listen more, give more of myself and not just medications. Only today a nurse asked me to counsel a patient and I did. No medications just good care! Thank you again.

Anil Patel
Fairview Southdale Hospitalist