Friday, April 14, 2017

Life in Madhepura Christian Hospital– A JMO's Point of View


‘I want a career in which I never have to sit at a desk for too long, or stare at a computer for days on end, a job where no two days are the same. I want to be useful!’ 

These were the big ambitious wishes of the young teenage me. It’s been a few years since then and my wishes have been more than fulfilled through my placement at Madhepura Christian Hospital.

When I first arrived at the airport, I was greeted by Manju bhaiya, a very happy man, who is the face of Madhepura Christian Hospital to all newcomers to the hospital. As we got closer to Madhepura the road got bumpier and the weather got cooler. Instead of seeing plump turban wearing uncles and the yellow mustard fields of Punjab, I now saw pineapple fields, paan chewing bhaiyas and the vast fertile land of Bihar with its flowing rivers and greenery. Our campus is a small haven in midst of the cramped town of Madhepura – with a collection of different fruit trees (Litchies, Mangoes, Chikus, Mulberries et al), full-fledged organic farming and nature study, spear headed by Arpita ma’am doctor/mother/homeschooler/organic farmer and her three home schooled kids in tow.

A typical day here leaves me breathless! We kick start the day with devotion, followed by General ward, ICU and NICU rounds, quickly completing discharges and rushing to OPD where patients are already waiting to see you and the cards begin piling up.

OPD consists of an USG room and two airy rooms with plenty of sunlight. The area where the doctors sit is separated by a curtain from the area where the patients wait – expectant mothers, crying babies, old and wrinkled grandpas and concerned relatives. It is a bustling hub of activity – the nurses screening patients, taking vitals, giving directions, ‘Char number – Billing! Aath number – Dawayi! Satra number – Lab!’

On the other side, Dr Timothy (our SAO and radiologist) hustles in and out, going back and forth, doing USGs, handling office work and overseeing construction. Everyday in OPD, USG probe in hand, he opens my eyes to the wonders of the developing fetus, physics, radiology and life, with a sprinkle of PG entrance MCQs and well timed jokes. What was once a blur of greys, whites and jargon now makes perfect sense thanks to him enabling me to learn how to do USGs. As a senior one would expect him to be strict and up tight, he on the other hand, is approachable and humble – no where else have I seen the JMO and MS alternating calls.

Dr Ilango, our Anesthesist sees medicine and paediatrics, patiently explaining and listening to what troubles the patients. The ICU where bleeping alarms of falling saturation often rattle my nerves, he once coolly sauntered in and asked me to intubate a patient absolutely unruffled by the cacophony that surrounds him or my feeble protest of, ‘But I’ve never done it!’

Dr Pradeep, a Paediatric Surgeon works part time at Madhepura Christian hospital and the rest teaching at government hospitals in Bihar. The days he’s here are packed with surgeries. From something as small as an Incision and drainage or cutdown to Hydrocoele repairs, Hypospadias repair, Hernioplastys, Laparotomies, Cholecystectomies and even a Hemiglossectomy – he takes equal effort to explain them all. With his kind smile and gentle touch he soon wins the trust of his patients.

Dr Bina, our Gynaec-ALL-ologist, is always multitasking - busy seeing Antenatal patients, and pretty much every other kind of patient as well. And here lies the remarkable speciality of working here – you get to see everything!

As the sole JMO in this 35 bedded hospital every on call night provides an opportunity to see and manage cases from all specialities – Ob-gynae, Paediatrics, Surgery, Medicine, Derm, Psychiatry, ENT, Community health. I have learnt more in the last two months than I ever did in my 5.5 years of college. MCH is small, but makes a significant contribution towards mending lives in the state of Bihar.
In the midst of the hullabaloo of OPD, we have patients coming into the Emergency Room adjoining OPD. Some are dramatic - Snake bites, Organophosphorus poisonings, Eclampsia, Ruptured Uteruses, Severe Anemia, Dehydration and Malnutrition, mothers in second stage of labour – in which case we drop all and rush to OT/ICU, some unique and others relatively docile – Common cold (the treatment of which is really an art!)

On an average we have 2-3 Caesarean sections a day, and a busy labour room – all managed single handedly by Dr Bina and the team of nurses headed by Sister Ancy. From never having done a PV on my first day here, to doing independent C-sections two months after, my learning curve has shot up steeply thanks to her patient instruction and excellent example. On many a busy nights we’ve groggily made our way back from OT after our third CS of the night, bleary eyed and low on sleep, but the next morning however tired she is, she’ll greet you with a twinkle in her eye, a pat on the back, her easy smile and yummy dosas for breakfast.

Some days are free, some insanely busy, some days I worry about how I don’t get time to study for PG, some days I realise I’m learning things that form the basis of my practise, some days patients fight, some days they walk out hale and hearty, some days are lonely, some days filled with the company of really wonderful people. This brings me to the sprightly youngsters of MCH – An animated troop of seven campus kids who make sure you never have a dull moment. From climbing trees, playing with guinea pigs, running behind chickens and reading story books to making me jump on the trampoline (‘Because it’s good for your lymphatic circulation, Preeti didi!’) they add colour to life.

I have learnt that in a mission hospital there is nothing that is ‘not your job’, there is no job description, you learn to juggle multiple roles and manage your time (or at least you try to!)

I have learnt that well trained nurses are the backbone, the hands, the feet, the circulatory system (or whatever simile you’d like to use) of an effective mission hospital.

I have learnt that if you keep an open mind there is something valuable to be learnt from everyone, the sweeper, the staff, the OT technician, the patients, the relative, the doctors and the nurses. You learn integrity, dedication, hard work, humility, compassion and you see a side of India which we often choose to ignore. For how long can we ignore the elephant in the room?

It is impossible not to be downcast at some of the things we see, to not get angry at the injustice meted out to those who can’t fight for themselves, but this is the stuff of reality. In working here I truly feel useful in my small way, and I am glad I’m able to be of service to the one who looks after the greater scheme of things. When one hears of Bihar it always brings to mind images of derelict women and children, extreme poverty and illiteracy. Clearly, the harvest is plenty, but the workers are very few.

9 comments:

  1. Nice blog...and well written...I used to blog regularly some 6-7 years back, but sadly laziness got the better of me.

    I am glad that you are enjoying your work out there...Make the most out of it before you go for specialisation...Keep blogging

    Dr Kima

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  2. Thank you for sharing this Pree! Love you! And I'm proud of you.

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  3. Wow Preeti di! Sounds fantastic :)

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  4. Well written and very encouraging!

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  5. Well written. Great to hear about the cheerful JMO in a mission hospital.

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  6. Well written Preethi... Yes, working in mission hospital helps you to be an all rounder. Keep writing, it's really encouraging. God bless

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  7. Re-lived my mission hospital experiences as a junior medical doctor. Yep . Peripheral hospital experiences are fulfilling. Thank you for the post!

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  8. BGreat Preeti Beta we are proud of you.One of my colleagues Dr Priya asked me who is this Preeti in Madhepura as she was greatly impressed by your blog.love u

    Aunty

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  9. Good to know about Madhepura chrChrist hospital.....

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