Manos Amigas Clinic Recipient of Award for Medical Computer Support
 Manos Amigas de Honduras is the recipient of an award from the Institute for Technology in
Health Care for their work in using technological applications to benefit patients at their
healthcare clinic in La Entrada.
The award was presented personally by Dr. Michael Tysowsky, chairman of the Board of Directors
for Serving at the Crossroads, a charitable organization from the USA and sponsor for placing
the clinic in competition for the award. The presentation was made at Project Honduras'
Conference on Honduras 2006 in Copan Ruinas during October 12-15, 2006.
This award carries with it a certificate of accomplishment and a cash prize. Dr. Tysowsky
said "it brings great satisfaction to SATC in seeing their Honduran partner rewarded for their
creative efforts in making certain that healthcare reaches into every barrio of La Entrada."
The award, given in recognition of an innovative solution at the clinic in solving a patient
care problem with the aid of computers, was accepted by Dr. Sonia Bustamonte, president of
the Board of Directors of the foundation, Manos Amigas. The award results demonstrated practical
and appropriate application of engineering, computers or technology for the solution of a problem
in clinical patient care.
Nearly 18 months ago, Manos Amigas opened a medical clinic in the community with one doctor and
healthcare workers who went up into the barrios to conduct an inquiry or survey. In introducing
themselves and the clinic, they identified people who were too poor to provide for their own medical
care. They registered the number of respective family members, their illnesses and those who were
incapacitated at the time because of their medical condition. They collected patient medical histories,
created computer databases, and provided patient access cards for treatment at the Manos Amigas clinic.
Upon learning that she had won the award, Dr. Bustamonte remarked that "it seemed like just yesterday
when we opened the clinic doors and now we have five doctors who volunteer, serving without pay to relieve
the pain and suffering of patients in the community. So far we treated more than 10,000 people at our clinic."
She said that "a new, modern clinic with more medical equipment will be built soon on property the foundation
owns near the edge of town that will relieve some of the crowded conditions and offer additional services
like dentistry and eye examinations."
Adapted from Honduras This Week, Online Edition 39, October 23, 2006 |
