Haydom Lutheran Hospital
So today we were given the grand tour of the hospital. I really had no idea what to expect and it is hard to describe. Pictures are going to show up soon I hope, but that will not give you the sounds and smells, the dust blown into the rooms. No airconditioning and it does get very warm during the day. The ICU has 18 beds but will frequently hold 22 patients. The beds are close together, not even a foot apart, DHEC would have a heart attack if they would have any say here. Around each bed there are at least 3 family members. The medications are placed in self-made med cups, a little cone shaped cup made from paper. Then the first name of the patient is written on it. IV fluids are in glass bottles, which gave me a flash back to nursing school. Also, the beds look somewhat the same as I remember from that time. Metal bedpans and kidney basins and washing bowls….wow, now I know where they all went.
Tomorrow I am going along with the outreach program. You drive out into the country to provide mother and child care. We are going to give vaccinations, check expecting moms, weigh babies etc. Hopefully I’ll be able to take a lot of pictures. I am very much looking forward to it!
More tomorrow!
