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A review of ten years' experience with surgical equipment in international health programs
Author(s) -
Castadot Robert G.,
Magarick Ronald H.,
Sheppard Lianne,
Burkman Ronald T.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/0020-7292(86)90024-x
Subject(s) - medicine , agency (philosophy) , session (web analytics) , medical education , developing country , reproductive health , continuing medical education , obstetrics and gynaecology , training (meteorology) , medical equipment , nursing , population , continuing education , economic growth , pregnancy , philosophy , physics , environmental health , epistemology , biology , world wide web , computer science , meteorology , economics , genetics
The Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) began in June of 1973 with financial assistance from the Agency for International Development (AID). The purpose of the organization was to provide training and medical equipment to physicians in developing countries to update their education in reproductive health. JHPIEGO began by offering courses in the United States and shortly thereafter began training at centers in the developing countries themselves. Because of its important contributions to gynecological diagnosis in addition to its use in fertility management, laparoscopic equipment has been a major item in JHPIEGO reproductive health training. This paper details the development and role of laparoscopic training in JHPIEGO's program. Laparoscopic training begins with selection of trainees from appropriate institutions. Training itself begins with a didactic session at Baltimore or an in‐country center. Trainees then receive clinical training and perform a minimum number of procedures, after which the practitioner, if he or she has successfully completed the clinical practice, can be named eligible to receive medical equipment to be donated to his or her institution. When equipment is installed, a field visit is made by a JHPIEGO consultant to insure the proper use and upkeep of equipment, and the understanding and implementation of standards and procedures. JHPIEGO has trained almost 3000 physicians in laparoscopy techniques between 1973 and 1984.