Eric’s Blog

Week 3 Update

Another busy week at McCord Hospital; we usually run about 15-18 patients on our service with one intern.  Not to mention that managing patients is just more difficult here with limited resources.  There is only one computer and one printer per floor, and both of them are more frequently down for repairs than they are up and running.   Progress notes, consultations, referrals, and essentially everything but lab results and radiographs are all on paper.  Ultrasound and simple radiographs are the only imaging modalities available.  CT and MRI must be done at outside hospitals requiring a complicated slew of scheduling, consent from patient/family, ambulance transportation scheduling to and from the outside hospital, etc.  That said, McCord does an excellent job managing HIV.  It has a comprehensive program managing the biopsychosocial needs of the patients including initial diagnosis, extensive education and anti-retroviral therapy compliance initiatives, close outpatient follow-up here at McCord, and inpatient care. 

I found out that I will be giving an international presentation on Tuesday to an audience of ~11 different hospitals around the world via teleconference – doh.  And if this week is like last week, I believe one of them will be Massachusetts General Hospital – doh.  One of these days I’ll learn to stop volunteering for things. 

As is custom in South Africa to celebrate birthdays for 4 days prior, Friday night was my 26th birthday bash as well as a farewell to our good friends Teruni and Jenna.  

We watched the Durban Sharks battle the Cheetahs in a game of rugby at the ABSA stadium. 

After that we first headed off to a fun open-air bar called Cubana’s and then to Clapham Grand, a dance club near the stadium. 

No better way to celebrate a birthday than in South Africa with good friends from all over the world.

I’ve somehow managed to beat up my body pretty bad while here.  It all started at the beach with ‘blue bottle’ jellyfish wrapping their tentacles all over my legs that has yet to fully heal up.  Then I made the poor judgement of running in a city with hills reminiscent of San Francisco with Karen from
Canada and Fayad the intern – both of whom are in far better shape than me - a mild case of rhabdomyolysis, I’m sure.  I found out that I have a latex allergy to the gloves at the hospital, so I have a huge rash on both hands extending from my knuckles to fingertips.  Friday night, I thought it wise to stay out until the sun decided to pop up and remind me that it is in fact time for bed at 5am.  I spent 6 hours at the beach yesterday so now I have a sun burn on my back to match the latex rash on my hands and my jellyfish rash on my legs.  Friday night was pretty fun, so I thought I’d stay out until 5am again on Saturday.  And here I am Sunday evening refreshed and rejuvenated ready for another week on the wards!