 |
| View from the top of the Metropolitan Park |
| The first few days in Santiago was spent sightseeing and working my first shift. I met up with some of the amazing EM US staff from Yale as we went to the top.  |
| Mariely in the resus bay at Sotero |
 |
| Ran into some Yalies in Santiago! Picked up some ultrasound tips! |
 |
| Posters from the Chilean Human Rights Museum |
 |
| Mote con huesillo! |
 |
| Wall Art |
 |
| Me, Mariely, Sherlock, Watson, and Agatha |
My first shift in Chile I worked with Mariely at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. This is the like the Seton Main of Santiago, an amazing private hospital with all the luxuries of a private hospital. Although it does come at a price. You do need to be able to pay for your services or your insurance must cover it.
 |
| PUC |
The next shifts were spent at Sotero, one of the public hospitals located in Santiago. Emergency Medicine is still a new specialty and it is evident by the fact that the emergency department is still staffed by traumatologists (orthopedics) who see all of the stable incoming trauma patients and anyone with an orthopedic complaint. Patients presenting with what may be a surgical complaint will likely be seen right away by a surgeon. And one of the most interesting is any female with a pelvic problem or pregnant is sent straight to the gynecology floor!
 |
| At Sotero they see approximately 110,000 people per year. They are the county hospital who serves all of the community. |
Sotero draws in a diverse group of patients. During my time spent at Sotero there were several critical patients with upper GI bleeds, acute MI, and unstable bradycardia requiring emergent pacing.
 |
| Supplies at Sotero |
 |
| Crash Cart! |
 |
| Pixis! When I asked if there was a problem with staff or patients stealing drugs, the response was NO! |
Variceal banding was performed in the ED in addition to floating pacemakers. The good news is the equipment is readily available.
 |
| Ultrasound displaying complete heart block. This was the 4th patient in one week with the same condition. |
The bad news is boarding times can be several days. The EM physicians frequently manage not only the ED but also the observation units which is up to 90 beds. They have to arrange for patients to be discharged if their course of treatment is completed after the inpatient duration.
The EM staff are amazing with ultrasound. The use it for many patients as the wait time for CT and US can be several hours. The still don't have complete support from other hospital staff for confirmation of diagnosis, but they use the US to help guide treatment.
 |
| A patient at Sotero in respiratory distress something strange about this CT? Besides having bronchiectasis she also had Kartageners and sinus inversus |
Well this is the beginning to a great experience!
