We are grateful to have a guest blogger this month- Dr. Tommy Trent. He has been a great supporter and friend of our organization. His perspective as a doctor and someone who has spent a lot of time in Central America is deep and insightful. Read for yourself:
We are lucky to have employees that move Rainbow Network forward. We are grateful that our donors care about the people we serve and continue to give. We are fortunate that our leadership anticipates the needs of the people we serve. We see that when employees, donors and leadership come together, great things happen.
I witnessed this last week when I was in Nicaragua. Rainbow Network recently purchased a new handheld GE ultrasound device that has made it to the field and is being used. It is a cutting edge instrument that could possibly be the only one of its kind in Nicaragua. Our old machine stopped working in June 2021 and could only be used for abdominal exams. Now a wide array of imaging may be performed. This permits more care for more people. Its portability and detail along with its usability distinguish it as a device that will improve the quality of care we provide our patients. We are also very fortunate to have a physician on staff that is capable of operating the ultrasound device.
Dr. Cynthia Perez is an energetic, intelligent physician who is motivated by outcomes. Dr. Perez was a general doctor working at a hospital, and received specialized training in ultrasound. She decided to come practice for Rainbow Network once she learned she would be working in communities and operating the new GE device. It is our great fortune that she possesses the skill to operate this type of device. Standing beside our President Megan Hererra, Dr. Perez remarked “This was the reason I chose to work with Rainbow Network. It lets me use my skill and training and makes a big difference for my patients.”
I recently had the opportunity to meet Dr. Perez and watch her utilize, with great skill, the ultrasound device to diagnose an abdominal condition known as cholelithiasis. This painful condition occurs when gallstone(s) become lodged within the gallbladder. The patient had been suffering with unknown abdominal pain for a long time, but it took only a moment for Dr. Perez to make the diagnosis. The patient left the clinic with a printed picture of the problem and will receive a follow up appointment with a surgeon. I am not entirely certain this diagnosis would have ever been made had all of the aforementioned conditions not intersected.
The ultrasound device’s portability allows for movement between clinics. It is able to be recharged between patients and Dr. Perez averages twenty-six ultrasound examinations per clinic. Sometimes this number is into the thirties. It is fascinating technology for people who have never witnessed pictures of the inside of their bodies, and it is truly amazing to watch a mother see her child for the first time. It excels at providing the doctor an image of the orientation of the baby inside the mother and performs tasks such as heart beat measurement and developmental measurement of the unborn child with ease. She also routinely diagnoses testicular, thyroid and breast cysts.
As a physician, I certainly have taken for granted the vast array of technology and resources available to me and to think of practicing without the use of ultrasound is not even conceivable. This device is current technology and permits rapid diagnosis leading to better outcomes. As leaders at Rainbow Network, we are all interested in better outcomes across the continuum of our programs. I am particularly proud that such great emphasis is placed upon our patients and such a special piece of technology was purchased. We now have a special doctor taking better care of our patients because of the generous contributions of our donors and the vision of our leadership. Thank you all.
Dr. Tommy Trent