MAIS stands for Modelo de Atencion Integral de Salud (Integrated Model of Healthcare Delivery)– it’s a new model that the ministry of health wants to implement in all it’s primary care level health centers. They started implementing the MAIS in the health center in January, so it’s in the beginning stages. Right now, they are working on doing new MAIS histories, which involve two parts, one, a very detailed personal history (there is one for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics) and the second part is a family history. The family history is not only a standard complete medical history but also an evaluation of the family’s socioeconomic status. There are questions about the housing conditions (construction materials), if there is potable water, if they have a sanitation system, and animals within the home. After the two histories are done the health care worker has to come up with an integrated health plan that addresses all the health needs of the family. It looks at health in the big picture and asks for the health center to address all the factors that affect one’s health. It is a very ambitious plan. Housing, employment, sanitation, safe drinking water, and education are all clearly determinants of health, but a lot to ask a health center with limited resources to address.
Even with their limitations the health center has taken this head on and is starting to make their plans for each family and family member. They haven’t really identified how they are going to evaluate what kind of impact the MAIS is making on their patients. We discussed this and they did say that they would at least try to come up with some short-term goals for the MAIS, but I’m not sure I convinced them of the needs for a control group. Anyway, I’ll be interested to see where this goes
2 comments:
Hi Blanca, You are doing such interesting things in Peru! I found your blog while I was looking for some information about working as a foreign doctor in the “centros de Salud”. I was born in Peru and lived there till I was eleven years old and visited the country many times. I just finished medical school in the Netherlands. First I want to obtain a couple of years of working experience, but than I really would like to work in a Centro de Salud in rural area in Peru for many years. Do you think it’s hard to obtain a job like that for a foreigner? I was wondering if you are Peruvian or do you have your roots there? And you’ve been working in Santa Clotilde. Do you think you could do that work for many years and live there?
Well you are doing what I hope I can do some day in the future. Really a nice blog.
Noemi
Noemi,
Hi. Thanks for reading the blog. I'm not sure how hard it is to actually get a job here as a foreigner, sure it's possible, but probably just lots of paperwork. My parents are Peruvian which is my connection to the country. As far as Santa Clotilde, it's really small, but so much work to be done there. Father Jack has spent 24 years there, so it's definitely possible, you should at least go for a visit. Good Luck!
Blanca
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