Think tank

Think tank

Think tank

The guest house hosts doctors and other professionals from all over the world.  During the first week we had meals with a physical therapist born in Zimbabwe, now working in South Africa, an anatomy professor from Dar es Salam Tanzania, a pharmacist from South Africa, an OB-GYN from Cameroon an the UK and administrator from Australia and of course me, a family doctor from America.  It is 2012 and it is clear that health care is a team sport.  (Dan Brewer 2007)

Most folks are here as outside observers to evaluate and give feedback for various programs.  Sort of like an AOA, ACGME or medical school or university inspection.  The individuals are here for about a week and spend many hours reviewing papers, looking around then writing a report which is presented to the medical college.   The administrator is observing in the hospital with plans to give some feedback about how the systems work.  The OB-GYN has a big project planned.  He plans to go to the North of the country and provide continuing medical education (CME) in 7 hospitals and not provide CME in 7 other matched controls to see if this can improve maternal fetal mortality.  I take my hat off to him!  What an important project and a big idea.  They are away from their families and the guest house provides a safe, clean place with food and lodging.