Marcy’s Blog

I can’t believe it’s my fourth week already!!

Time here flys by so quickly!  Sorry I have not posted anything in awhile, I get home and before I know it, its time for bed.  Everything is still going very well. For my second week I was posted in the gymnasium physiotherapy departement, which is similar to an outpatient PT clinic in the U.S.  They treat orthopedic, neurologic, and pediatric patients.  Some patients are only seen for one day, others are seen for a couple days up to a couple weeks.  I was able to more hands-on treatment with the patients, but it was still difficult because the PTs are very busy and here they treat up to 200 patients a day!  It is still hard for me to adjust to how quickly they see patients.  The physiotherapist’s assessment skills are very good, not as thorough, but they try to be efficient and give the patients the best couple exercises that are possible for them to complete independently.  I was able to work with a couple patients and discuss treatment interventions with the physiotherapists.  I have seen a variety of diagnoses and complications that are not common in the U.S.  That’s one thing I love about CMC, you can see any type of patients, it is a wide variety!  

Last week I was posted in the physiotherapy inpatient neurology department.  This was my first experience in the hospital wards.  CMC is very big and it is confusing to navigate between the different wards.  It was interesting observing the interaction of the nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff and how they provide care to the patients.  For example, everyone wears sandels, the nurses wear white saris, the floors are cement, wooden hospital beds, a lot of paper documentation, less sanitation, visitors sitting or sleeping on the floors along the hallways, etc.  There are so many different experiences that I have each day it is hard to write them all down.  I was able to collaborate with the phyisotherapists while treating patients and I developed a good relationship with one of the patients, that he invited me to have tea with him so I enjoyed talking with him.  I enjoyed neurology because we saw patients for about the same time as we do in acute care in the U.S. and I was able to work with a couple of the same patients throughout the week.  I also was able to observe a muscle biopsy procedure and go to the diabetes clinic.  Diabetes is a major concern here, it occurs in 1 out of 5 people!  At the diabetes clinic the patients visit several different health care professionals for screening and education; we taught them exercises to do and general exercise prescription.  The staff that I worked with were very friendly so I was able to learn more about Indian culture, their education, clinical experiences, and general health care.

I also was invited to go to a bible study last week.  One of the physicans of CMC has it at his house each week.  It was so nice seeing someone’s home here, meeting more staff at CMC, and being able to pray and worship together.  I also have been able to visit a couple different cities close to Vellore for vacation on the weekends. I have traveled with a couple of other international students and we’ve had many new experiences together.  I have seen wild monkeys, ate lunch on a banana leaf, traveled for one hour standing on a bus crowded with people, been on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and have enjoyed shopping at several stores.  I’m also getting better at eating with only my right hand, but I still have a tendancy to use my left or just use a fork or spoon.

I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m learning so much!  This has definately been a wonderful adventure and I’m looking forward to what comes in the next four weeks.  I have been invited to a wedding this week, so that should be another great cultural experience.  This week I’m posted in the orthopedics inpatient department, the majority of patients are recovering from total joint replacements or spinal surgeries.  I have already seen two tuberculosis patients today, so I’m sure it will be an interesting week.  I’m also trying to get posted in some different departments to go out into the community to work with patients.

I’ll continue to keep  you updated!

 Marcy