Global medical mission with surgical education objectives: a quality report regarding sustainability in an affiliated hospital in Quito, Ecuador

Abstract

This report seeks to describe the logistics, outcomes, and push toward building a sustainable model for global surgical missions as viewed through the lens of Northwell Health’s 2020 Surgical Mission composed of both operations and international education. The Northwell-Quito 2020 medical mission to Ecuador was envisioned and successfully executed to help achieve Northwell Health’s goal of becoming a globally recognized leader in high-quality, socially conscious health care, and health education. A Northwell-sponsored team of 30 employees and community volunteers partnered with Hospital Padre Carollo, Fundación Tierra Nueva, and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health to provide surgical services to the indigent and underserved of Quito, Ecuador from January 19 to January 24, 2020. During this mission, a total of 127 patients were evaluated, which included preoperative evaluations, operations, as well as postoperative follow-up from prior missions’ surgical interventions. Of the 56 patients scheduled for surgery, 53 operations were performed, including 30 adult and 23 pediatric procedures. No major complications occurred, and all patients were recovering appropriately at the postoperative evaluation on January 24, 2020. Northwell team members provided didactic and practical training for Ecuadorian health care providers, residents, and students to fulfill the educational mission of providing sustainable perioperative care. For the first time, Northwell’s Center for Global Health partnered with Universidad de San Francisco in Quito to organize a Global Health Week focused on the development of research, education, and mental health outreach and partnerships seeking toward building a sustainable model inclusive of logistics alongside international and cross-cultural care.