Wendy Leonard

Recent Activity

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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Join Global Giving and make the world a better place!!!!
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  We Don't Need More Dirty Coal!
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Support Solar Power Electricity In Rural Health Centers
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  global hunger
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  One Green Thing Pledge
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Please sign! International ACTION ALERT, Against “Safari Hunting”
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Ask the Senate to Invest in Global Health Programs for Women and Girls
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  Wendy signed the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Support Increased Funding Assistance for Developing Countries in the Climate Change Declaration
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  Wendy commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Friday Futures: The End of the Physician

  As a primary care physician and HIV specialist, I have a hard time with this post. Yes, mid-level practitioners are an essential part of a strong health care system. What I don't understand is this concept that we have to put down entire groups of people (physicians). Medicine is difficult~ it does not fit into cookie cutter computer algorhythms. If it did, I would not spend countless sleepless nights trying to figure out the answers to my patients' medical conditions. Rather than berate and minimize the benefits of physicians, it seems logical to try to find the strength of each type of provider and build a system from there.

  
  

  The mid-level practitioners that I work with are excellent, and they also know their limitations. They "curbside consult" the physicians on a continuous basis. This makes it quite difficult to compare quality care, since it is not always clear if medical decision-making is being made by the practitioner on her/his own or with the assistance of a physician consult.

  
  

  Most importantly, the physicians in developing countries deserve more respect rather than less. When I went to Rwanda as an HIV clinical consultant, I was surprised at the limited amount of information that community-based physicians had regarding the reasons behind their HIV protocols. To Rwanda's credit, they are one of very few countries in the world that have physicians who are intimately involved in developing protocols at a national level. On the other hand, physicians and nurses at the community level were given algorhythms and told to follow them without clear explanation. These providers WANT to understand the 'why' ~ and it is essential that they do understand the why so that they know what to do when an individual doesn't fit the mold that has been presented in the algorhym. 

  
  

  Thank you for posting this. Although I am not in total agreement, it is a natural and important discussion to have as we move forward with health care reform in our country and health care infrastructure building in developing countries.

  
  

  All the Best~ Wendy

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  Wendy recruited Darlene to sign the petition | almost 3 years ago

  Tell Congress Harm Reduction = Human Rights