One of the tangible results of overseas, hands-on teaching and training for local health providers is the trust that grows between students and visiting teachers. It is important for the improvement of global health care quality and availability – by getting to know their teachers and experiencing hands-on lessons, local providers can be confident that the information and skills they are receiving will lead to the best level of care possible for their patients.
When learning new information or previously unheard of skills, students may initially doubt the information or fail to see its value – particularly if it departs from previous lessons and information. As the following volunteer story from HVO’s physical therapy project in India demonstrates, however, trust between student and teacher can overcome this uncertainty and result in better patient care:
There was a trauma patient with one leg in a post op cast and the other in a BK prosthesis walking with two canes. He had a wide based waddling gait and was not ‘getting it’ on how to shift his weight at the pelvis. Working with Samuel, we put him on a Swiss ball and had him roll it in circles (a movement requiring pelvic freedom). Then, we put the ball on the Wii balance board and had him play a weight shift game (Table Tilt) by rolling the ball on the board. Samuel, concerned for his patient’s safety, was a bit reluctant about using the Swiss ball, but he trusted me enough to try it. By the end of that session, the patient said “I get it!” and his gait was wonderfully improved with true pelvic weight shift.
To see such a quick success made me feel really good, and I think demonstrated the value of the ‘games’ in a very tangible and applicable way. The next session when he came in, he came with one cane and walked without that cane during his session.”
There are many important components of health care education, and, as the story above demonstrates, hands-on training brings a level of trust important to implementing new skills and information. The on-the-ground work of HVO volunteers positively impacts both local health providers and, ultimately, their patients. Find out how you can get involved.