Borland Groover Clinic Goes to Cambodia

Borland Groover Clinic Docs Leaving Sihanouk Hospital with Patients Waiting Outside of the Front Door

2010-07-31T04:11:00.000-07:00

Below is a blog about bringing state of the art Endoscopic equipment to the Sihanouk Hospital in Phnom Phen Cambodia, Follow the story to the start, by clicking at the bottom of the pages to previous posts, I hope you enjoy the story, and the pics.

Our 9 days come to an end in the am, I want to thank the great staff at Sihanouk Hospital for the care of us during our stay with them. Without Sandie's and Angie's help, these endoscopic rooms would never have gotten up and running, and also, without Angie's pre equipment send off work, this equipment would never have made it to Phnom Phen. Dr. Tek, you and your wife made this trip outstanding. As our guide to the customs, the foods, the politics of Cambodia, we could not have asked for better ambassadors.Without Brigitte Schmites help, nothing would have happened, Danke! I wish to thank the partners of the Borland Groover Clinic which supported this project both in transport support, but in technical support and staff, again without the Borland Groover Clinic, this would not have happen. We are very grateful to Olympus of North America, THANK YOU!, and to Baptist Health, Jacksonville Florida.

Drs Etzkorn & Tek with the Department of Surgery, Sihanouk Hospital, Phnom Phen, Cambodia

2010-07-31T03:53:00.000-07:00

Our final day is over, 30 cases today! Over 9 days on the ground, we set up two rooms of near new endoscopic equipment, gave a reserve room of equipment which was put in storage. Trained techs and RN's on equipment care, cleaning, ect. Tought three docs on perfecting their endoscopic skill, and worked, performing endoscopic cases for five days for the Sihanouk Hospital system. Its time to go home, it was worth ever cent the cost to do this. Its my goal to return, I would strongly encourage any health care professional to concider giving time, equipment, skill, if not out right cash to this organization.

A Sad Consult:

2010-07-31T03:39:00.000-07:00

The patients mom gave us permission to post her daughters pic and story. She presented with classic common bile duct obstruction from stones, with abdominal pain, jaundice, but because Sihanouk Hospital dose not yet have ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Pancreatography) ability, she will require an open lap, with common bile duct exploration, far more risky. Our hope, within the next 12 month either we, or some other group will help out with setting up ERCP ability at the hospital.

After 5 days, the docs seem to be getting much better!

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Hall way consult

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Eating lunch in the O.R., thanks to Dr. Tek's wife, always good with plenty of antioxidants

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Tr. Tek's wife, resting between a procedure, helping with translation

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Outside O.R.s 1 & 2

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Dr. Tek and Angie at the Silver Temple

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AFTER 9 DAYS, IT RAINS!!!

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Inside the Central Market

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Outside of the Central Market, Phnom Phen

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Craftsman in Central Market, Phnom Phen

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Driving to work today, had to stop and take a few pics of smoked PIG!

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End of our 2nd to last day, our longest day yet, looking forward to sleep

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Traffic Jam in pre-post op

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Dr. Chantha Hor and crew doing an EGD

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Dr. Hor, had just returned after several months in Germany learning advanced endoscopy. There is a real need for ERCP ability in Cambodia, currently no one does ERCP here. Specific to Sihanouk Hospital, the hepatobiliary cases are many, and as such, we will be back, to help establish an ERCP unit. I worked mostly with Dr. Hor, a good endoscopist, and mindful doc, looking forward to my return to fish out common bile duct stones with him.

Dr. Preap Ley

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Dr. Preap Ley, one of the great and wonderful host surgeons at Sihanouk Hospital. Always helpful, here getting past the C-loop

Dr. Tek and his crew of docs

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MD/RN O.R. Lounge, these places are the same world over!

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Post Op, and off to home.

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OR Schedule Board, kinda like JCE, just a bit open to interpretation of whats on store for the day, did 19 procedures, plenty of doubles

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Dr. Etzkorn reviewing patient chart prior to procedure

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Preop Note

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Scope being hand air blown

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On the way to work today

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An invintation to dinner

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We where invited to dinner by Mrs Tek's Aunt, the grand lady sitting between Dr. Tek and myself. The meal was one of the best ever entered into my digestive tract, and she, a true jewel. Thank you for such a great meal and wonderful conversation!

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Russian Market of Phnom Phen

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Busy Roads of Phnom Phen

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Dr. Tek and I Before Surgical Grand Rounds Talk

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Entrance to Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope

2010-07-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

End of day 2 at Sihanouk Hospital

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Our white coats hanging on the ExPat hangers next to the Cambodian docs hangers

First Double of the day

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First double of the day, got to use Dr. Teks room before going to OR-2

Pre-post op area

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OR-2

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OR-2, the little OR delegated to Dr. Etz, small, but works well. My team here was outstanding. The CRNA one tough woman, working with some real sick patients today. Would work with any of these folks at JCE. Dr. Tek has the larger OR, sinced he is doing the teaching, I am the machine, for some reason, had all the double procedures today, hmmm!, LOL, it was a blast.

Sandy and Dr. Tek mid way through a double

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One of the many excellent CRNA's working with us, they keep the whits stuff coming!

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In the processing room, Angie with Tech from Sihanouk GI Team

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Sandy Training one of the great nursing staff at Sihanouk Hospital

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Patients waiting to be seen

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Dr. Tek outside of the Hospital Triage Waiting Area, Sihanouk Hospital

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Our First Day At Work

2010-07-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

The crew sets out to work, a full day of cases, teaching two docs on endoscopy, learning about a new OR. The bottom line, not any different than any other endoscopy lab the world over. Humans, helping humans be healthy. Wow, what a great first day it was. Be happy all at home, the etz!

Dr. Tek, teaching the fine art of endoscopy

2010-07-26T08:10:00.001-07:00

Doctors listening to Dr. Tek describe the upper digestive tract, and the techniques of endoscopy to help the current patient.

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Dr. Etzkorn with lots of folks watching an upper endoscopy

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Dr. Etzkorn, wondering why there are so many people in the room, and also contemplating on whats for lunch!

American Import...sad!

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The Killing Fields

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Destroyed my camera today

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Climbing up this semi mountain, the camera hit a rock, its dead, but above are photo's taken with it before its death. After cases in the AM, will trek out to find a new camera. The photo here, is just before camera death.

Day One Finished, Two Rooms Up And Ready!

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Dr. Tek and I turn on the equipment for the first time

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Our Cambodian crew helping with a monitor stand

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Unpacking in the OR

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Saturday, First Day At Work

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We got to the Hospital at 10 am, unpacked and set up two endoscopic sets in under 3hrs. Great work on Angie's and Sandy's part. Dr. Tek and I did are best looking busy. The team from the hospital was excellent, with typical Cambodian know how, where able to correct and fix any problem that came up. Then the important moment came, to turn on the darn equipment, and it works. So Monday we start with patients. Of note, there was only one pair of O.R. clogs that they could find for my feet, they have been secured!

Final thoughts before sleep:

2010-07-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Its been two years since Dr Tek and I talked about doing this, we are here now, and my main goal is to leave with this endoscopic equipment working and of help to those in need in Cambodia. I had no idea of the amount of work and time it would take to get here, but here we are........more images in the am. the etz.

Dr. Tek and his dear wife

2010-07-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Waiting on the final flight into Cambodia.

The Trek Begins

2010-07-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today, better yesterday we left JAX, and this evening 11pm Phnom Phen time, 28 hrs later we have made it to our rooms in the hotel. We start early in the am, checking out the equipment, and the plan to set it up. A brutal trek to get here, but here we are and safe!

We Hit The Air in A Few

2010-07-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

Thursday, its go day, from JAX to ATL, then Phnom Phen, a day of air travel, 11 hrs a head of JAX time, expect the first post with pics Sat or Sun, then follow us in our trek, AKA Dr. E

The Crated Equipment Awaits An Airplane Ride

2010-06-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

Got news today that the equipment has made it to Phnom Penh airport, and awaiting customs clearance. Excellent!!

Cambodia, the season when it rains, the season we will be there!

2010-06-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pvPzPC2eek&feature=PlayList&p=5127856292B2A89A&playnext_from=PL&index=0&playnext=1

A quick yet cool YouTube video post

2010-06-18T19:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M3qAtdSEcU

Lonely Planet site on Cambodia

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http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/phnom-penh

Ya Gotta Check the U Tube Video Out

2010-06-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4qttp6nDts

Just Waiting Now For Mid July

2010-06-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

The equipment left last week, it will fly out this week, and will be waiting for us come mid July. For now we wait till we head out, to get these endoscopic OR's up and running. Its been a full year, getting the equipment donated, assembling and checking it, the endless hours of paper work for customs, the airfreight transfer, a lot of work, by a lot of great people. If you are new to the blog, scroll all the way down, and click on the old posts to the start. As the days approach, activity will pick up on the blog. Its my hope, technology working, we will be able to post while on site daily. Anyway, enjoy, wish us will, 7 weeks to go, and off to Cambodia.

Sihanouk Hospital Link

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The new link to the Sihanouk Hospital

Dr. E and the air shipping crew.

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Brigitte Schmitges signing the manefest list, the equipment is off!!

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Video from Utube on Cambodia Health Care

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_05K5Ugk9DQ

Link to News on Phnom Penh

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http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Interview with Pol Pot attempting to justify his actions:

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Pol Pot attempting to justify the destruction of a 1/4 of Cambodia's population

A Video on Pol Pot's Killings

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U tube Video on Pol Pot's Killings in Cambodia

Words from Sandi

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Hello, My name is Sandi. I have been a registered nurse for 20 years now. I have worked with Dr. E since 2000 at Baptist Medical Center, where he taught me many of the skills I have today. Now I work at The Jacksonville Center for Endoscopy. I am so grateful to be offered the opportunity to go to Cambodia and serve at the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH) in Phnom-Penh, Cambodia. I am excited to be going and hopefully making a difference in their lives and sharing my knowledge. I am sure this is going to be a life-changing experience not only for the people of Cambodia but also for me.

Example of an Endoscopy OR

2010-05-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

The picture depicts what is our goal, two functioning Endoscopy OR's at the "Angel Hospital" , minus the patient, doctors and nurses......., with the latest in video endoscopy.

The Equipment Stacks Up

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Our Storage room is almost full, all this, 700 lbs, of scopes, prcessors, monitors, cautery, ect ect, waiting on the July 1st airfreight outa here, and off to Cambodia, with us to follow, to set it up, and train the folks there on its upkeep and use.

Words from Angela

2010-05-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

Hello, My name is Angela. I have been a surgical technologist (surg-tech) for 6 years now , I externed in the G.I. unit at a hospital while I was a surg-tech student, I found the G.I. system fascinating loved the doctors and the people, I went on to be the lead surg-tech in urology but I always looked for the chance to go back to the G.I. department. There was an opening which I took without hesitation. I then had the opportunity to join the Jacksonville Center for Endoscopy where I found my home, I love and respect the people I work with . I wanted to go into the medical field because I enjoy helping people, it was great to get to interact with my patients whereas when I was in the OR they were asleep when I saw them . This trip to Cambodia for me embodies all that I went into the medical profession to do and that is to help people who need it the most, I am a true believer that a smile a kind word and gesture of the same will heal. I am excited to start our adventure and I am excited to work hard to help the people of Cambodia.

Words from Dr. Tek

2010-05-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

I first learned about Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH) in Phnom-Penh, Cambodia from Dr. Jim Miner, a friend I knew when I first came to Jacksonville for my Fellowship in Gastroenterology under Dr. Jack Groover. He had volunteered at the hospital and suggested that I check it out. I then learned that in 2006 SHCH treated 300 to 350 patients daily free of charge, but the patients had to be selected by lottery to be seen. The waiting line was very long. SHCH opened its door in 1996 to serve the poor entirely free of charge. More than a million outpatients have been treated since. It has been called "Angel Hospital" a place where a poor person with no money "can receive a new life". It is one of the best hospitals in Cambodia, one of the best training centers in the country for Cambodian healthcare professionals (Nurses, pharmacists, medical students, physicians.) SHCH treats common illness such as diabetes, hypertension or more specialized diseases such as HIV, TB, and breast cancer. The hospital receives a steady stream of overseas medical and non medical volunteers, mostly from the United States, Australia, Europe, and Asia. I married my wife, Suon, in September 1970 soon after my graduation from the only medical school in Cambodia. The war with Cambodian communists, the Khmer Rouge, just started then. We spent our honeymoon dodging the shrapnel from the rockets launched into the city every night by the Khmer Rouge. We came to the United States in March 1971 for my post graduation medical training. In 2007, we went back to Cambodia with our two daughters and our son, all born in the United States. We traveled all over Cambodia so that our children can see Suon's home where we got married, my medical school, the village where I was born, and the famous Temple of Angkor Wat. I visited a few medical clinics on the way to Angkor Wat and talked to the people about the healthcare needs in Cambodia. The government and international non-governmental organization (NGO) had been actively working on developing small health centers in the rural areas and in the cities, but significant numbers of Cambodians still lack access to affordable and effective healthcare services. During my visit to SHCH to enroll in the volunteer work, the hospital administrator showed me the endoscopy suite, and only one upper endoscope and one colonoscope all of fiberoptic type with eye pieces were in use. With great apprehension, I humbly promised that I would try to get them more advanced video scopes expecting to get a few old video scopes from our Borland-Groover Clinic. By a stroke of luck, Dr. Kyle Etzkorn had just returned from a visit to Cambodia and loved the country and its people and told me that he wanted to do something for them. After several months of very hard work, Dr. Etzkorn was able to acquire three upper video scopes and three video colonoscopes and accessories donated by Olympus of America and several other scopes from Baptist Medical Center and from our own Borland-Groover Clinic. In addition, our clinic through our president, Dr. Jack Groover, has approved a generous grant to pay a BGC team of two physicians, one nurse, and a technician to go to Cambodia to set up an endoscopic center at SHCH with two rooms. We will teach the Cambodian physicians and nurses during our week long stay. The SHCH had agreed to name the center The Borland-Groover Clinic Center of Endoscopy. BGC will become worldwide. In addition, BGC will donate $5,000 each year for future repair of the scopes. We also have acquired donation of $5,000 worth of service from Instruments of Mercy Refurbishing Company for future scopes repair. This is much, much more than I expected. Several other people are involved in this project with great enthusiasm. Cindy Hall, Brigitte Schmitges, and Angela Hull have been of great help. I greatly appreciated the tireless efforts by Dr. Etzkorn who is responsible for the success. I cannot express enough gratitude for Dr. Jack Groover, my great teacher and mentor, who has made this project possible. Many thanks to the Borland-Groover Clinic organization and all its members, Olympus of America represented by John Watt, Instruments of Mercy represented by Michael Davis and Toney Peer.

Getting closer to sending out the equipment:

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Thanks to all the great work of Brigitti Schmitges, she has been doing all the leg and phone work to get the equipment from Jacksonville to Cambodia.

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Some of the equipment, being checked prior to packing

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Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE web site

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http://www.hopeww.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=314

A few web sites on Cambodia and Phnom Penh:

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These are just a few web sites on more info on where we are going:
www.canbypublications.com
www.cambodiapocketguide.com

The Web link to a video on the "angel hospital"

2010-05-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

This a web link to the hospital in Cambodia that we are taking the endoscopes to, watch the video : http://www.care4cambodia.org/