Virtual dermatology care for refugees: A dialogue with Dr. Patrick
Dr. Patrick (pictured on the telehealth device) helps Dr. Trisha, a local physician in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to diagnose and treat a patient.
How is practicing medicine different in countries around the world? We had a chance to talk to Dr. Patrick, a volunteer physician for World Telehealth Initiative (WTI), to hear his first-hand experience.
Dr. Patrick is a dermatologist who lives and practices medicine in Florida. As a WTI volunteer, he also cares for patients with dermatological conditions at Hope Hospital in Cox’s Bazar and the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. Dr. Patrick shared about volunteering for WTI over the past four years while practicing dermatology in both Bangladesh and the United States:
How did you get started volunteering in Bangladesh? Has telehealth technology made it easier for you to care for dermatology patients in Bangladesh?
“I traveled to Bangladesh in 2015 to care for patients with dermatologic issues in several clinics throughout that week. Shortly thereafter, Hope Hospital set up telehealth clinics with World Telehealth Initiative. Every month, I participate in dermatology focused telehealth clinics at both Hope Hospital in Cox’s Bazar and the Field Hospital in the Rohingya refugee camp.
Telehealth technology has truly revolutionized the delivery of needed medical care in even the most remote locations. The visual basis of dermatologic conditions makes telehealth an extremely effective way to treat patients…”
Are the dermatology cases you see in Bangladesh different than what is common in the United States? Is practicing medicine in Bangladesh different than in the United States?
“Patients in Bangladesh, especially in the refugee camp, are definitely afflicted with conditions associated with overcrowding, poor hygiene, and wet climates. While conditions such as scabies, fungal infections, and bacterial infections are common in the US, they seem to be infinitely more common and more severe in my patients in Bangladesh.
It is in many ways more difficult to practice medicine in Bangladesh. In the US, I take for granted the ability to perform skin biopsies, tissue cultures, and bloodwork, and I also take for granted that my patients will return for their follow up visits. In Bangladesh…most patients are lost to follow-up, so I can rarely confirm that my prescribed treatments were completely effective.”
What motivates you to make time to volunteer?
“I find my time working with the medical providers and the patients in Bangladesh extremely fulfilling. I have worked with countless providers over the years through the telehealth clinics, and it is always so rewarding to see their dermatologic knowledge base grow with each clinic. It makes me so happy knowing that these providers will use what they have learned through our telehealth clinics to care for patients throughout their careers. Working with these other passionate medical providers who will help countless patients in the future is all the motivation I need to volunteer some of my time.”
WTI is so grateful to Dr. Patrick for his commitment to providing dermatology care in Bangladesh. The goal of every WTI program is to build the skills and knowledge of local physicians so they are equipped to tackle more complex cases. Over time, the knowledge of our in-country partner physicians—and that of our supporting volunteer physicians—will continue to grow as we care for more patients together.