Visiting Cambridge - learning experiences

[talaxandra]

I will be visiting Cambridge at the end of September/beginning of October. Though not my primary reason for going, I am interested in differences in practice between Australian and American hospitals, and was hoping to take advantage of being there by visiting a couple of units. My areas of specialty are:

- stroke and neurology including five-day stays for video/EEG monitoring of seizure patients, ten-day admissions for lignocaine infusions to wean habituated patients off antimigrainoids and analgesics, and initiation of Apomorphine for patients with Parkinsons;

- endocrinology including DKA management and pre- and post-para/thyroidectomy care;

- rheumatology attracting patients with APLAS and other rare conditions;

- renal from preliminary inpatient investigations to haemo- and peritoneal dialysis and transplantation;

- infectious disease including the state HIV/AIDS service as well as patients with TB, shingles, Legionella etc

I would be really interested in meeting with any of you to discuss your policies/procedures etc, or even tour your units if possible. I will be in Cambridge from September 28th to October 4th.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

There are no major hospitals in Cambridge, but the hospitals you would be looking to visit would be Boston ( across the river).

Two of the major hospitals are MGH ( Mass General Hospital) or Brigham and Women's Hospital. both have an international office.

http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/ they have an access number for patients.

There are privacy protections for patients, I don't think you would be able to get a tour without having your credentials verified.

I know when I worked at BWH often times visiting international nurses would be touring.