Perú: without complexes and in pole position

One week after our return from Peru, it is time to place all we lived there at our box of memories.

It´s always a pleasant experience to meet people where you feel interest and desire of stop, stop with you and your stories. People who generate expectations for the encounter that make the event more interesting. Expectations fulfilled more tan we dreamed for us, that already occupy a place in that little corner of the good memories.

During the past March 30th- 31st and April 1st was celebrated in Lima the First International Multidisciplinary Conference on Humanization of the Intensive Care. In the main auditorium of the Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, the Peruvian Society of Intensive Care Medicine and its nursing chapter had organized a large program focused on the humanization of the ICU, which covered almost all of the issues. During three intensive days we were talking about bioethics, emotional and psychological needs of patients and families; flexibility of schedules and open visitation experiences. We spoke about satisfaction of patients and relatives, expectations about information, early mobilization and its benefits, how preventing post intensive care syndrome, patient’s well-being and team communication , death in the ICU and the grief; structure, technology and spirituality. A concentrated program that required attendees to spend almost twelve hours of reflective meeting

We have surprised by many things, but one of them has been the intensity and taking advantage of those marathon sessions in which almost at all times a full capacity was maintained. More than 450 people registered who came from Lima and other places of Peru. At a difficult time to move through the country in recent flooding that suffered a few days earlier, it was surprising hearing the testimony of some present making thousand cabals to organize their assistance. That interest was accompanied by an explicit wish of loading their backpacks of resources to take to their hospitals. Doctors, nurses, technicians (auxiliary), but also psychologists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, and up to personnel administration plus patients and family members have shared reflections and enriching debates.

The first day, we had the opportunity to visit one of the huge hospital ICU. And there we saw that, with aspects to be improved, the starting point in this H-evolucion is in pole position. And that they are in a situation from which advance without complexes in this people-centric process. Spacious with natural light, terraces and gardens open up many possibilities. But even more, the fact of having teams that include psychologists and physiotherapists that in addition to the scientific and technical training, provide the interest that we previously put in value in working towards a more friendly ICU.

We are very pleasantly surprised by the connection established from the outset and greatly flattered by the treatment, we can not pass the opportunity to thank the organizers for letting us to share experiences and illusions. And we will not quote anyone because we would run the risk of leaving out to any of the more than four hundred who have moved there.