I have had the pleasure of being part of the Angels Colombia team since its inception in my beautiful country. Therefore, I have witnessed its entire evolution.
At the start of 2023, everyone in the Angels Colombia team outlined their development plan and objectives for the year. Encouraged by my team leader, Andrea Correa, who inspires us to explore new avenues, I proposed the idea of conducting a BI-Baton, or knowledge exchange and support initiative, with the team in Peru. BI-Baton is a program that allows us to explore other positions or areas in our company and usually lasts about three months.
At the time the team in Peru was in need of additional support to continue growing. I saw an opportunity to create an innovative work plan that would continue to add value after I left, and I was interested in making the application of the Angels project in a health environment that was different from Colombia, part of my development plan.
The proposal was brought to the attention of Deborah Ferreras, the leader of Ropu South America, and Sol Plamenatz, then leader of Angels Peru, and it was approved.
I didn’t know anything about Peru except what had been shared at some regional meetings. I immediately began the process of learning about the country’s healthcare system, identifying opportunities and laying the groundwork for several ongoing projects in Peru.
Through online reading and research and from interviews with the local Angels team I learnt that one of the main differences between Colombia and Peru is that under the Colombian health system, while it’s both public and private, coverage is universal, and everything operates under the same rules. By contrast, Peru has seven subsystems that operate independently. Coverage is concentrated in the capital city of Lima and in other cities there are many deficits in the healthcare system – unlike in Colombia where we work with 236 institutions in 45 cities.
Among the achievements during this three-month Bi-baton, we accomplished the following:
- We secured an agreement with Rímac Insurance, Peru’s largest insurer, to train and certify all its pre-hospital staff. This company boasts the largest fleet of ambulances in the country. As a result of this agreement, which was reached with the invauable support of Dr Fredy Garzón, Peru will become the first country in South America with certification for prehospital care.
- We provided training and certification for all nursing staff at the Anglo-American Clinic in Lima where the nursing supervisor and emergency manager Julian Fernandez gave us his unwavering support. This hospital was selected because it was already part of the Angels process, but training had been portponed due to budget constraints. We expect that this intervention will increase the rate of treated patients and that improved performance will lead to the institution being certified.
- We initiated an Angels consultancy at Ate Vitarte Hospital in Lima where emergency physician Dr Willy Linares was particularly welcoming and dedicated. This is a new hospital in the public network located on the periphery where it serves the most vulnerable population in terms of socioeconomic level.
Although a lot of the work was done remotely, I had one week of in-person engagement during which I met with RIMAC to finalize the training agreement for the entire EMS team and the creation of quality indicators; met with the the country’s largest imaging company to involve them in the stroke care improvement process, and was involved in training approximately 200 nurses.
Peru, a country of remarkable beauty, embraced me warmly. The people are friendly and generous, and the food is delicious. I was impressed by how clean and organized Lima wass, and by the citizen culture – the sharing of social and cultural experiences that provide a sense of community.
Peru’s complex healthcare system poses challenges for establishing stroke networks. However, this complexity also presents numerous opportunities to implement Angels and reshape the narrative of stroke, offering patients a second chance at life.
For me, this experience marked significant personal and professional growth. It involved navigating a different healthcare system, understanding a distinct culture, and grappling with diverse norms and health policies, making the implementation of Angels in Peru a rewarding challenge.
During this project I realized that my communication skills were helpful for overcoming resistance. This strengthened my self-esteem and made me feel confident that I am doing a good job.
The experience has also allowed me to realize that in Colombia we have no excuse for not having stroke networks or stroke-ready hospitals thanks to the advantages of a healthcare system that empowers institutions.
To the current Angels team in Peru, I wish you a prosperous 2024 filled with growth and accomplishments in the service of patients. I hope that the seeds I’ve planted will soon yield fruitful results.
Sending heartfelt hugs your way!
I am deeply grateful to Andrea Correa, Sol Plamenatz, and Deborah Ferreras for allowing me to embark on this incredible journey, supportng teams in another country. May this experience mark the beginning of continued collaboration, transcending borders, and knowing that we always have each other’s backs.
