April 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009 7:25PM
Today was an exciting and important day in my career.  I had to examine the respiratory and cardiovascular system of my first patient at policlinic, the clinics located in every neighborhood throughout Cuba.   Moments before I walked into the examining room I was both excited and nervous because it was my first experience examining a patient.  Many thoughts rushed through my mind.   I remembered my first days at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) and the excitement I felt when I first held a human heart or lung in my hands in the anatomy laboratory.  I wondered who my patient was going to be and what was he/she going to be like.  I couldn’t wait to meet them.  
I arrived to the policlinic early in the morning because I was due for my clinical introductory class practical evaluation.  As I entered the policlinic I observed many anxious patients waiting their turn to see the physician.  Right then I realized that I was going to end up examining one of them.  As I was sitting in the waiting room, I observed them one by one with such curiosity, wondering which one of them was going to be my patient. 
I was the first one of my classmates to be evaluated.  When they called my name I entered the examining room and I met the two physicians that were going to evaluate me.  They were very kind as they explained to me the procedures of the exam.  They told me not be nervous because most of the patients were very cooperative.  So, the time came for me to meet my patient.  They called the next person in line, an elderly lady in her late 60s.  As she came into the room one of the physicians asked for her cooperation with my evaluation.  They explained to her that I needed to take a practical exam and that I needed her to be my patient.  She immediately agreed and was actually excited to help me out. 
I will never forget this woman.  Her face looked tired and wrinkled.  Her body was fragile.  Her shoes were old and dusty.  Her clothes were worn out.  She had difficulty walking as she entered the room.  When I asked her to please remove the clothes from her upper body she was having difficulty and so I helped her.  When she removed her clothes her wrinkled skin seemed to be hanging from her body.  Her body told a story, a sad story full of struggles.  As I was palpating the different cardiac areas, her body was warm and I was a bit scared because, as I said, she looked very fragile.  I kept asking the patient to let me know if she felt any discomfort as I performed the examination. 
At the end of my evaluation I thanked my patient and I shared with her that I considered her to be my first patient in my career.  She gave me a big smile and wished me luck in my career.  At that moment I was done and it was time for me to thank God for sending me my first patient. 

   

Contact information: 

Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina
Carretera Panamericana Km 3 ½
Santa Fé, Playa
Ciudad Habana, Cuba
C.P. 19108

Email:  Ramon Alejandro Bernal  alex238209@yahoo.com
Joanna Mae Souers  jsouers@gmail.com