INDIAFEBRUARY 2017

LUCAS BIDER

VELLORE, INDIA

• CITY IN SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN STATE OF TAMIL NADU

• POPULATION: 485,000• HOME TO THE CHRISTIAN

MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL

• TIME DIFFERENCE: 10.5 HRS AHEAD OF KANSAS CITY

TRAVEL

STEP 1: KANSAS CITY CHICAGO

STEP 2: CHICAGOABU DHABI

STEP 3: ABU DHABICHENNAI

STEP 4: CHENNAI VELLORE

33 HOURS: 19 IN PLANES, 10 IN AIRPORTS, 4 IN CARS

TRAFFIC

CARS

MOTORCYCLES

DOGS

COWS

HUMANS

GOATS

RICKSHAWS

TRASH

TEMPLES

POLICE

COLOR

CMC• 2,858 BEDS• 95 WARDS• 15 ICUS• 47 ORS• 9,066 STAFF

DAILY STATS:• 8,313 OUTPATIENTS• 2,071 INPATIENS• 175 OPERATIONS• 54 BIRTHS

PATIENTS

LEPROSY

DIABETES

INFECTION

PM&RI AM ATTENDING RESIDENCY IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION AND SO DECIDED TO STUDY THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF PM&R IN INDIA. I CHOSE THIS ISSUE IN THE HOPES THAT I WOULD BROADEN MY PERSPECTIVE AS A FUTURE PHYSIATRIST AND LEARN OF STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES TO PATIENT CARE UTILIZED IN A FOREIGN SETTING.

PM&R

PM&R IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE FIELD IN INDIA. PHYSIATRISTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-ACUITY PATIENTS AND EVEN PERFORMING SURGERY. THEY TRADITIONALLY PERFORM FLAP SURGERIES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PRESSURE ULCERS.

PM&R

INDIAN PHYSIATRISTS EMPLOY UNIQUE, LOW COST ASSISTIVE DEVICES IN THE TREATMENT OF THEIR PATIENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, TROLLIES, PICTURED AT RIGHT, ARE USED TO PLACE PATIENTS IN A PRONE POSITION AND RELIEVE PRESSURE ON SITES OF ULCERATION. UNLIKE EXPENSIVE MATTRESSES IN THE UNITED STATES THEY ALSO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT MOBILITY.

PM&R WHEN A PATIENT IS ADMITTED THEIR FAMILY IS AS WELL. FAMILY MEMBERS LEARN THERAPY AND REHAB TECHNIQUES TO ASSIST THE PATIENT AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER DISCHARGE.

PM&R

THE PM&R SERVICE AT CMC HOLDS AN ANNUAL EVENT FOR ALL SPINAL CORD INJURY PATIENTS LIVING WITHIN 100KM OF VELLORE. OVER 3 DAYS THEY PERFORM FREE MEDICAL CHECKUPS AND PROMOTE THE FORMATION OF SUPPORT GROUPS AMONG PATIENTS.

FRIENDS

ADVENTURE

REFERENCES

DR. GEORGE THARION, PM&R

DR. HENRY PRAKASH, PM&R