EAP training to ease Nicaragua’s need for more hemodialysis patient care
Nicaragua is experiencing a rapid growth of patients on chronic hemodialysis, mainly owing to the high incidence of Mesoamerican nephropathy across the country. The ISN Educational Ambassador Program has helped more nephrologists, vascular access surgeons and hemodialysis nurses get specific training to better care for their patients.
Alexis Garcia, a surgeon based at Cruz Azul Hospital in Managua, joined forces with ISN Educational Ambassador Octavio Salgado and ISN Interventional Nephrology Committee Chair Tushar Vachharajani to fill the gaps in training across this field.
Garcia explains: “We have a population of around 2,000 patients on hemodialysis. With the ISN Educational Ambassador Program, we wanted to improve knowledge about hemodialysis vascular access for doctors and nurses.”
Octavio Salgado spent one week onsite to give a hands-on workshop that provided specific training to very multi-disciplinary team. He explains: “With the use of simulation models, nephrologists, surgeons, nurses and dialysis technicians could better learn how to place peritoneal dialysis and cardiovascular catheters.”
The Educational Ambassadors Program sends experts to developing renal centers for one to four weeks to provide specific hands-on training or help develop new services, community-based research or screening programs. The deadline for applications is all year long.
For further information about the ISN Educational Ambassadors Program, CLICK HERE.
