Collaboration for Healing: Meet Mrs. Hann

39-year-old Mrs. Hann lives in Krong Kaeb, a beautiful and lush beach town in Southern Cambodia.  She recently fell ill and her condition worsened until she was bedridden with a fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue and severe stomach pain. After enduring this intense pain for six days, she began to worry. She visited a local medical clinic in hopes that they could offer her some relief. They gave her some medication, but her condition only grew worse.  

Mrs. Hann then traveled to the nearby city of Kampot, Cambodia in search of the specialized healthcare she needed. She was rushed to the emergency room at Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital. Initially, the local physicians were unsure what was causing her to be so sick. They performed a variety of tests, from an ultrasound to a CT scan and blood culture. The local physicians in Kampot began to suspect that there was a serious problem with her liver.  

They decided to reach out to emergency medicine specialist Dr. Rick Wise, for a second opinion. World Telehealth Initiative’s program in Cambodia with Health Volunteers Overseas gives local clinicians access to medical specialists across the world. Dr. Wise has supported Sonja Kill for many years through mentorship, lectures, and education, developing a close relationship with the hospital staff.  

Dr. Wise connected to the telehealth device at Sonja Kill and was able to conduct a real-time virtual examination of the patient, discuss with local providers, and view her test results. Dr. Wise worked with the local medical team to decipher that blood clots in her intestinal veins and a liver abscess were making her very sick. When left untreated, this condition can be life-threatening and lead to septic shock, resulting in organ failure.  

Fortunately, the local team and Dr. Wise were able to help Mrs. Hann. They worked together to come up with a treatment plan, involving various antibiotic medications and fluids. After a few days in the hospital, her condition improved steadily. With the power of collaboration enabled through telehealth technology, Mrs. Hann was able to able to return to her enjoyable life in Krong Kaeb with her family.