Working at the Hospital

African life is very laid back, but the hours of work are long. Ward rounds with the doctors and surgeons start at 7.30am and the day finishes at between 5 and 5.30pm. The work at the hospital is inspiring and their work is leading the way for paediatric care in Uganda. Despite this the team don't rest on their laurels, but have a drive to improve their services every day and with every patient.

It seems as though I am part of their plan to review procedures within the physiotherapy department, and have been asked to work with them to develop a number of items to improve the service. Firstly, by reviewing the existing assessment procedures, and writing a standardised subjective and objective assessment protocol based on our findings. Secondly, by integrating a mini gross motor function assessment that will serve as an outcome measure for the physiotherapy department and may be integrated this into a database that will be developed for the service. Also, we will be implementing a new system of record keeping to ensure information sharing is made possible between departments. Finally, after recommending that the physiotherapy department provides therapy to children and education to the "mamas" on the wards, as of Monday, I will be starting to roll this out. 

While I'm excited, and know to keep it basic....this is allot of work for a second year physio! Everything will be trialled and adjusted in about 6months time, when a PT from the USA comes to work full time at the hospital and this is something I am thankful for.