M-Heal + ATC Visit Clinic in Comalopa, Guatemala
M-HEAL team students meet with midwives of the indigenous Kaqchikel group in a small settlement outside of Comalopa in rural Guatemala. The students are trying to assess the needs and skills of the nurses and midwives to better design a remote stethoscope that would send heart-sounds of patients in rural part of Guatemala to a Guatemala City hospital .
Photo by Marcin Szczepanski, Multimedia Content Producer/CoE’s Communications and Marketing
M-HEAL team answers questions about the Guatemala trip
1.) Traveling in Guatemala doing research for this project, what has been the biggest surprise for you so far?
When traveling in Nueva Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, we visited a local clinic to speak with their staff and find out if the technology we would be developing came across as helpful. Although John Barrie from ATC had been explicit that we were in our own infancy as a project, the clinic had been hopeful that we could use our stethoscope on a patient they had brought in. We, by no means, were in a position to be able to assist the baby or mother, and it broke our hearts to have to say we could not help.
To us, this elicited the most unique combination of emotions. We wanted to help but could not. We had been explicit that we were not prepared to actually work with children, yet they had wanted just that. It was frustrating and, at the same time, so uniquely touching to see how hopeful they were for our work—even desperate. If we had any doubt that this project would be important, or even pivotal to some of the regions of Guatemala, our experience made quick work to oust those concerns.
The team was surprised, saddened, and encouraged. Nothing could make us want to move faster and deliver technology and hope to Christian Barrios (the doctor) and his staff more intensely.
2.) What is one thing you’ve learned over the past few days of meeting with midwives, Dr. Castañeda and relatives of patients?
We have really narrowed down on our objective. Before we came to Guatemala, we did not know too much about our end-users; now we have seen them face to face. We have determined where everyone sits in the line of people needed to make our project a success, and we have learned their roles. If distilled to one thing, we have learned the work-flow of the vision Dr. Castaneda and the doctors see for this project and are much better equipped to try and deliver it.
3.) Is this trip changing your perspective on anything? If so, what and how?
It would be impossible for our perspective not to change. From the trivial fact that cars always have the right of way to the profound realization of the capacity for the locals to organize themselves and fix a health system to the best of their abilities, we’ve been impressed and moved (and have not gotten run over by any cars—so it’s a good trip).
4.) Are there any other important revelations you’ve had so far that you want to mention?
Seeing the midwives, nurses, and community medical volunteers first-hand at rural clinics made it clear that this project is a collaborative effort. Without full understanding and support from the community, this project will fail. However, it gave us confidence to see volunteer community members taking healthcare into their own hands — through medical education, home visits for newborn checkups, etc — inspiring efforts that could be assisted by the device we are developing. Technology is crucial to the solution, but only one part of the entire “ecosystem” that will improve outcomes for children impacted by congenital heart defects. In the end, Dr. Castaneda’s foundation is the keystone to all of these efforts, without which there would be no option for treating these children.
