McCord Hospital, South Africa
McCord Hospital
Durban, South Africa
Summary
McCord
Hospital is a 166-bed, Christian hospital, providing comprehensive,
affordable, and quality health care to the less privileged people of
Durban. McCord Hospital has four service priorities: patient care,
research, education and training, and holistic HIV care. The latter is
the greatest single medical need in South Africa today, and in line
with this challenge McCord Hospital has developed comprehensive HIV
care programs.
McCord Hospital fosters an active learning
environment that encourages those students to further develop their
skills, and leadership potential. In addition to training for medical
interns and family physicians, McCord Hospital participates in
international collaborations for medical education, especially through
Harvard University. The hospital also provides learning opportunities
for both medical students and resident physicians from abroad.
Location & Community
Durban
is located on the eastern coast of South Africa. It is the third most
populous city in the nation, at roughly 3.5 million people, and home to
the busiest seaport in all of Africa. Durban is a melting pot of
different communities. Black Africans account for 68 percent of the
population, followed by Asians and Indians at 19 percent, and Whites at
9 percent. Durban today boasts the largest Indian population residing
outside of India. It is a youthful city, with 50 percent of the
population under age 24, while just 4 percent are over the age of 65.
The
summer months are October through March, with temperatures ranging from
23 C (73°F) - 33 C (91°F), and high levels of humidity, especially in
January and February. Wintertime is April through September, with a
drier climate and milder temperatures in the range of 13 C (55°F) - 26
C (78°F).
Transportation
Visitors fly into the
modern Durban International Airport, where taxi and rental care service
is readily available. “Minibus taxis” are the most common form of local
public transport, though they should be used with caution due to high
accident rates.
Visa Requirement
For current
information, please visit the South African Embassy website appropriate
for your country. United States citizens can consult the South Africa Embassy in Washington, DC. American passport holders should obtain a visitor visa only, which is generally valid for 90 days.
Traveler’s Health & Safety
Please check the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date health information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx, and consult with your physician before traveling.
Travelers
are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for
the most up-to-date information regarding country specific travel
information and travel advisories: http://www.state.gov/travel.
While
pharmacies are available in South Africa, travelers do well to bring a
sufficient supply of personal medications. McCord Hospital does supply,
for a charge, post-exposure prophylaxis for needle stick injuries. As
in any major city, one must be conscientious about safety. One should
not carry obvious, visible valuables, and avoid walking around after
dark.
Patients
McCord Hospital primarily serves
people in Durban’s middle-income population bracket. The majority of
patients are employed, but do not have accompanying health insurance.
They frequently present to McCord Hospital with trauma, complications
of chronic diseases, and for obstetrical care. HIV disease, with its
entire range of complications, is also highly prevalent.
Languages
South
Africa has 11 official languages. English is commonly spoken in Durban
and other major cities, but is not as prevalent in rural areas. The
most widely spoken language outside the city is isiZulu (”Zulu”).
Translation is available for those patients who do not speak English.
Facilities
McCord
Hospital is a 166-bed, semi-private, Christian hospital, partially
subsidized by the provincial Department of Health. The aim is to
provide comprehensive, affordable, and quality health care to the less
privileged people of Durban. McCord Hospital is characterized by four
service priorities: patient care, education and training, holistic HIV
care, and research.
Departments within the hospital
include internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and
gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, emergency/casualty, and
outpatient department, providing care for some 250 patients per day.
Specialist care is also available in anesthesiology, ENT, plastic
surgery, palliative care, dermatology, psychiatry, urology, audiology,
radiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychosocial
support services.
HIV Care Facilities
The
greatest single medical need in South Africa for the foreseeable future
is prevention of HIV infection and care of infected people, all in the
face of ongoing social stigma. In line with this challenge McCord
Hospital has developed comprehensive HIV care programs. These include
antenatal clinics that provide Prevention of Mother To Child
Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, as well as adult and pediatric HIV/AIDS
treatment centers.
McCord Hospital today hosts one of the
largest Anti-Retro Viral therapy programs in the South Africa.
Comprehensive care is offered and includes social assistance,
psychological services and pastoral care. For those individuals who
fail outpatient care and suffer from full-blown AIDS and
life-threatening opportunistic infections, especially tuberculosis,
McCord Hospital holds out hope through state-of-the-art medical
interventions in the setting of research and medical education.
Website
Health Profession Staff
Each
department of McCord Hospital is lead by at least one post-graduate
trained physician, many of whom received their education in Europe and
the United States.
Student Experience
McCord
Hospital fosters an active learning environment that encourages those
in training to further develop their skills, abilities, and leadership
potential. It trains medical interns in all the major disciplines, and
it accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The
Hospital also runs a Medical Officer Development Program, leading to a
Masters Degree in Family Medicine. The McCord School of Nursing is one
of the most highly ranked in the nation. And, international
collaborations for medical education are growing, especially through
Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The
hospital provides learning opportunities for medical students and
resident physicians both from South Africa and other countries.
Students should specify if they would like a general, broad experience,
or would prefer to participate in one specific department of the
Hospital.
Student Lodging & Meals
Various lodging options are available for students at serving at McCord Hospital. The Doctors Quarters
(DQ) is within walking distance of the hospital. The rooms are basic,
clean and comfortable with shared bathrooms. Meals can be prepared in a
communal kitchen or obtained at a discount from the staff dining room
at the hospital. Several other comparable housing facilities are also
available in the area.
Outside Communication
Cell
phones are commonly used and are readily available in Durban. Not all
hotels and accommodations offer Internet access, but Internet cafes are
plentiful.
Diversion
South Africa is a country
well worth exploring, with excellent game parks, majestic mountains and
wonderful beaches, all within a couple of hour’s drive of Durban.
Weekends are ideal for taking advantage of “package tours,” and other
students and visitors are often willing to join in and make up a party
to reduce cost. Some students also plan few days of travel after their
period of study ends.
Facility Support
INMED
invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to donate to
support the facility. This is not required but allows INMED
participants to become involved in every aspect of medical missions.
Behavior & Dress
Remember
to greet people and introduce yourself as frequently as necessary until
people to get to know you. Courtesy and manners go far. Simple gestures
like remembering people’s names and learning a few Zulu words are
helpful. Offering to teach something is usually well received: it helps
you to get to know the staff and shows that you want to contribute to
the hospital.
Dress is casual, but smart. However, bare
midriffs, short skirts and plunging necklines are not acceptable for
ladies and men are expected to wear long pants and not shorts. Open toe
shoes are fine as it can be quite hot in Durban in summer. While many
senior doctors do not wear white coats, interns and medical students
are expected to wear them. Summer is hot and you will need cooler
clothes, but in winter you may want a sweater and closed toe shoes.
What To Pack
Doctors
should bring their own stethoscope, penlight or flashlight, otoscope
and ophthalmoscope, as these are not always readily available in the
wards. Individuals are encouraged to provide their own laptop
computers. South Africa’s voltage is 220. Do not bring appliances that
require only 110 volts. The South African currency is the Rand. ATMs
are widely available, and most restaurants and stores accept major
credit cards. However, petrol stations and many Bed & Breakfasts
only accept cash. Traveler’s cheques are not easy to cash in South
Africa.