2023-12-22 20:46:39
03:44 PM
The deans of seven of the most prestigious medical schools in the department joined in the rejection of the crisis facing the General Hospital, for many, the worst crisis in its history and which has in check an institution that for eight decades was always at the forefront of national and even global medicine.
“The General Hospital of Medellín has been a fundamental setting for external practice for teachers and students of the Faculties of Medicine of Medellín, belonging to ASCOFAME. The relationship established between the Universities and the Hospital fulfills a fundamental purpose not only in providing excellent care to patients with responsibility and quality, but also in the training of professionals and specialists in the health area. This alliance between Universities and Hospital has positively impacted the health services of Medellín and Antioquia and surrounding departments and has been recognized nationally and internationally in the healthcare, scientific and academic fields,” states the letter signed by Paula Vásquez, dean. from the CES faculty of medicine; Pablo Patiño (U. of A.); Marco González (UPB); John Botello (Remington); Lina González (San Martín); Ana Jaramillo (Cooperative); and Juan Toro (EIA).
The deans indicated that they have evidence and testimonies from dozens of teachers and students that detail the situation within the medical institution. Among all the irregularities, the following stand out: the institution lacks a permanent and timely supply of supplies for daily use to provide adequate patient care in the services that are enabled and in operation, among them there is a lack of: photosensitive equipment, perfusors of different categories for infusion pump, extenders for venous access, tapes for glucometry and urinalysis, temperature sensors for servo control of incubators and radiant heat lamps, pulse oximeters for continuous monitoring of patients and flow sensors for ventilators, among others.
They also stated that in Colombia the main cause of infant mortality is respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and tuberculosis is a public health problem. Even so, currently at the General Hospital of Medellín professionals do not have the means to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, typing of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms and fungi; In addition, they are currently caring for neonates and pediatric patients with kidney disease and malnutrition and it is not possible to measure calcium levels, some vitamins, components of the liver profile, kidney function and we lack timely measurement of blood gases in intensive care.
In relation to diagnostic images, they reported that for approximately two months there has been no portable radiology equipment, which implies the transfer of patients to the central radiology service with the risks that this implies, such as hemodynamic respiratory instability and risk of bleeding.
Regarding maintenance, it has not been possible to apply the schedule of preventive or corrective measures to the ventilators in the intensive care unit and hypothermia machines, among others. The pharmacy lacks some commonly used and vital medications; as essential antibiotics for the common infections of our children, ampicillin sulbactam and ceftriaxone, vitamin K necessary for the care of newborns, vitamins are lacking for the adequate prescription of parenteral nutrition; The medical staff has been informed that there is very little availability of milk formulas for neonates and absence of insulin to care for patients with diabetes, in addition we do not have ringer’s lactate, a balanced solution to hydrate patients.
All of these situations, they warn, entail transcendental ethical aspects in the care of patients and that are not in accordance with our oaths and positions regarding the professional practice of teachers and students.
The Universities reiterated their willingness to continue supporting the Luz Castro de Gutiérrez ESE General Hospital and therefore, “we expose the current shortcomings so that urgent actions can be taken in this regard and in this way, timely and quality care is guaranteed for patients. We reiterate our support for the Hospital and all its staff and we hope for a prompt solution to these problems to continue strengthening the training of doctors and specialists in Colombia, preserving the health of those who visit it,” they concluded.
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