Medicalmissions.com Podcast

Steve Saint unpacks lessons in how to support the indiginous person and how to support the indigenous institution by equipping them with the resources to own the work of their hands.

This talk will examine cultural dynamics and work through the layers of culture from the outer layer of behavior down through the layers of values and beliefs to the core of worldview assumptions. Customs and health-related behavior derive from the basic assumptions about God, humankind, nature, and the origin of disease. Only when these worldview assumptions are understood and entry-points found to bring in new ideas can sustainable behavior change occur. Examples will be given.

The Vanga Hospital began in a rural area of western Congo in 1920. Beginning in 1961 the hospital grew into a comprehensive and sustainable Christian health service run by the Congolese church in partnership with a missionary staff. The health system includes: (1) A 400 bed multi-specialty teaching hospital (2) A school for training nurse practitioners and nurse midwives (3) A widespread system of improving community health through dialogue and community initiatives (4) A decentralized network of rural health centers that make primary health care services accessible to the entire population of 250,000 in the catchment area(5) A family medicine residency for Congolese family physicians (6) A team approach to caring for the whole person (7) An integrated approach to coping with the HIV-AIDS epidemic

This talk will begin by examining the biblical basis for mission and the biblical basis for linking spiritual and medical ministry. It will then look at practical ways that spiritual ministry can be incorporated into short term medical mission projects for maximum impact for the kingdom.

The etiology of diarrheal illness in the mission field differs considerably from that in developed countries and requires a different approach for the short-term or new medical missionary. This talk will prepare the medical missionary to evaluate and manage common diarrheal illnesses seen on the mission field, emphasizing clinical evaluation and diagnosis in conditions of limited laboratory availability. The causes of disease commonly seen on the mission field and clinical clues to their diagnosis will be emphasized. Treatment will be discussed with an emphasis on oral rehydration therapy included.

A practical review of parasitic diseases uncommonly seen in the developed world but commonly encountered on the mission field will be presented to help re-familiarize the new or short- term medical missionary with these diseases. The emphasis will be on practical diagnosis and management in settings lacking easy laboratory access.

Empowering Local Churches and Christian Business CEO's and Medical faculty to be involved in nurturing and directing Mission Hospitals in their own States,Cities and Towns. Reveal the relevance of Matt:28:19-20 to the work God has called the Church and the Christian Medical missions alongside every believer, to make Christ known.

In 2000 the global community through the United Nations adopted ambitious goals to improve the lives of especially the least advantaged in the world by 2015 – Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since 1970 the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP), Jamkhed, India, has pioneered the philosophy, principles and practice of comprehensive, community-based primary health care. Through this approach, based on Christian values, communities have been empowered and transformed, especially the poor and marginalized, women and children. Community members have learned to work together across social divisions and solve problems together for the well-being of the whole village – and have reached all the MDGs. This sustainable approach addresses social determinants and other root causes, including the caste system, harmful traditional practices, status of women and poverty. Caring and sharing communities are formed living in harmony, health and peace – shalom.

Nurses from developed countries who have advanced degrees, such as MSN and PHd. are strategically positioned to meet the growing need of Nursing Leadership development of nurse leaders and the promotion of excellence in nursing care in developing countries. Today in many developing countries, nursing is still yet to be recognized for its significant impact on quality patient care. As a result, these nurses are seen more as subordinates to physicians and lack the opportunities to develop to their full potential as leaders in health care organizations and in the provision of quality patient care. This session will provide you with the knowledge of the presenter's journey in living & working as a missionary nurse in India, and her continued passion to work with nurses in India while now living in the USA.

The entry of counterfeit medicines into the USA has accelerated greatly as a result of illegal internet pharmacies. Some major changes have occurred in the policies of some website search engines that will impede the entry of counterfeit medicines into the US, but this will be probably only a temporarily reduce the size of the counterfeit market in the US. This presentation will cover the following issues:1. Examples of the impact of drug counterfeits in the USA and abroad. However, this is not a witch hunt of counterfeit medicines. The purpose of these examples is to get your attention as to the urgency of this problem. 2. Counterfeit medicines in general: The magnitude of the problem. 3. Examples of the impact of counterfeit medicines on mortality and morbidity. 4. Solutions: Levels of counterfeit prevention measures: Overt, Covert, and Forensic. 5. Examples of each of the above types of intervention. 6. Changes In US law and current CA law to mandate implementation of ePedigree and other count

In this session we will be discussing almost every aspect of how to perform a short term health outreach: how to arrange travel, how to determine your formulary and where to find the cheapest medications, which dental equipment works best and where to obtain it, which optometry diagnostic systems are best in a portable environment, where to obtain the cheapest eyeglasses, and how to integrate evangelism into your health outreach. This session includes almost everything you need to know to effectively execute a short term health outreach in a foreign country.

Malaria prevention and prompt treatment often requires the use of effective antimalarials that many practitioners do not routinely use. These medications are not benign and do have potential adverse effects and drug interactions that we should be aware of and proactive in preventing. This session will review potential adverse effects, drug interactions and the risk of developing resistance for the current prophylaxis agents and the current treatment regimens of malaria.

The session will cover the current statistics of homelessness in America, the main approaches to addressing homelessness, and a case study of the “Service First” model where the homeless are invited to join service projects with other groups that benefit the community.

This session will address how the Church can be mobilized toward practical responses in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and for the care of people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. Biblically-informed approaches, examples and case studies from Food for the Hungry and other ministries will emphasize how grassroots efforts can be informed by proven strategies that have measureable and multiplicative effect.

It has often been said that one of the greatest reasons for people not to enter long-term missions is short-term missions. Using my own example as a case-study, we'll examine the logic and rationale behind this statement, and how short-term medical missions can be both a boon and detriment to the case of long-term missions.

Anecdotal evidence points to a general uptick in the interest and participation of volunteerism, including medical volunteerism. In contrast to Christian and Christ-centered medical missions, many volunteers are secular and have no religious affiliation when they work abroad. Recent studies have also shown a significance interest in medical missions overseas in both undergraduate and graduate medical education. The aim of this workshop will be to review the literature regarding secular medical missions. Additionally, the role of medical missions in secular medical education will be considered. Finally, the motivations for medical volunteerism, its relation – either positive or negative – with Christian medical missions, and the lines of dialogue between secular and Christian medical missions will be discussed.

There is great concern about the extent to which certain microorganisms have become resistant to the antimicrobial agents to which they were once highly susceptible. At the same time, there has been a significant decline in the number of new antimicrobial agents being developed and marketed. This presentation considers the uses and most important characteristics of the new drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. Where possible, the properties of the new drugs are compared with those of older drugs available for the same uses. A New Drug Comparison Rating (NDCR) is provided for each of the new antimicrobial agents. Selected infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS, malaria) that are of particular importance in parts of the world in which missions programs are based are considered, as are selected infections (e.g., MRSA, Lyme disease) that represent important challenges in the United States.

This session consists of a panel of women physicians who have served or are serving long term in medical missions. They will describe their call to missions, their missions service, and answer questions from the audience regarding issues of particular interest to women medical students and physicians considering medical missions.

To present teaching in the healthcare professions as an opportunity for missions. There is a global need for healthcare professionals with critical thinking and problem solving skills for competent practice in today’s healthcare environment. This has created a demand for qualified educators in the healthcare professions and opened doors for Christian educators to fill these roles and be involved in evangelism, discipleship and the development of Christian leaders in healthcare for the nations.