Surgery

Until the end of the year 2005, after eleven and half years of work with an excellent motivated and trained voluntary team and the growing support of our communities, we have performed 5082 operations in General, Urological, Gynecological, Reconstructive and Ophthalmologic surgery (see chart), at a much lower cost and with greater patients acceptance. We have operated in fifteen of the twenty two Ecuadorian provinces (see chart). We believe that mobile surgery makes it possible to deliver high quality surgical care in an economical and, first of all, more humane way, since the patient is not separated from his or her own habitant. Children from the country, especially, are spared from the trauma of the separation from their family and environment.

Human interaction in this system is greatly enhanced. Doctors are freed from their busy city schedule, while a full day in the country gives them ample time for more personal, peaceful contact with their patients and families.

CINTERANDES Foundation

Patients and their relatives become closer by sharing the burden of the surgical experience through immediate postoperative care. Community contributions, with food for the surgical team and a small contribution of money based on their individual possibilities, show their gratitude and participation in the program. Doctors, nurses, and auxiliary staff experience real teamwork, responsibilities are shared equally, and everyone realizes that properly cleaning the operating room is as important as performing the operation safely; thus an "esprit de corp" develops clearly in the benefit or patients and families. Rural doctors move to another level of work, leave their routine, and become more motivated.

With our experience, we have proven that it is possible to adapt ambulatory surgery to a mobile setting, transporting it to areas where the need for this type of health care is required, and to achieve successful results.

We have had zero mortality and the complication rate is comparable with the most advanced medical centers in the world.

Teaching

Nine promotions of surgical residents and medical students, six promotions of nursing students from the University of Cuenca and one promotion of medical students from the University of Azuay have attended our service, contributed greatly to the service of rural and suburban communities and received the benefits of the program

We have also received 272 foreign students mainly from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Latin America (see chart).

Research

As result of our research programs we have 30 publications in the United States, Great Britain and Ecuador . There are also 9 articles written in scientific journals about The Cinterandes Foundation. Our experience has been presented in 17 international scientific meetings (see chart).

Telemedicine

With the support of the Department of Surgery of The Virginia Commonwealth University and MITAC, we have the basic equipment to continue our program. On the basis of our previous experience, we expect to use telemedicine frequently during the present year, for pre and postoperative care.

We have four telemedicine stations: in Cuenca, Manglaralto, in the coastal region, Sucúa and Macas in the Amazon jungle. These stations are also in contact with VCU and MITAC.