University of Virginia Medical/Dental Brigade January 2015 Nicaragua

Start Date: Jan 2, 2015 12:00 AM
End Date: Jan 8, 2015 12:00 AM

Medical and Dental brigaders will be working closely together to provide quality health initiatives to a community that otherwise has limited access to health care.

Volunteers will spend three days in a community in order to optimize the amount of time patients are able to spend with the physicians and dentists.

Each patient will receive a physician consultation, teeth cleaning and a fluoride treatment as well as have access to pap smears, prostate exams.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to take patient vitals, obtain patient history and current symptoms, shadow and assist licensed physicians and dentists, participate in preventative education, and fill prescriptions under a licensed pharmacist.

Volunteers on Medical and Dental Brigades work closely together with licensed medical and dental professionals to provide quality health initiatives to a community that otherwise has limited access to health care. Volunteers spend three days in a community in order to optimize the amount of time patients are able to spend with the physicians and dentists. Each patient receives a physician consultation, public health talk, and prescribed medicines as well as have access to PAP smears, prostate exams and restorative dental care as necessary. Children, in addition, receive teeth cleaning, a fluoride treatment, and vitamins necessary for proper growth and development. Volunteers have the opportunity to take patient vitals, obtain patient history and current symptoms, shadow and assist licensed physicians and dentists, participate in preventative education, and fill prescriptions under a licensed pharmacist. Volunteers will become familiar with the prevalent health issues in their community and learn about how to prevent and treat those illnesses. These brigades provide each volunteer with the opportunity to make a tangible impact on a specific community while gaining real life experience in the field of international medicine and dentistry.