Down To Work

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May 31, 2012 (Jiajian) To screen the 150 patients that had shown up for the Blindness Prevention Clinic, we set up in the hospital courtyard in front of the hospital. Waiting room chairs had been aligned, and a group of nurses coordinated and queued the patients. Each patient was given a number and were called up in sequence.

Our team split up into physicians, interpreter and a Chinese resident. We had a penlight, portable slit lamp, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes. Because we were outside, it was hard to see some aspects of the exam so we had the nurse assist us holding an umbrella to block some of the light.

Patient by patient we would go through their symptoms, perform the best exam we could and then recommend treatment. We had some limited medications. If required, we dilated the patients. Eventually we set up an exam lane in a dark room adjacent to the screening area for Dr. Kingsley to do the retinal exams. Overall, this was the most organized and productive BPO clinic we've done. We evaluated 150 patients this morning.

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