Last day! This is simply a wrap up post to discuss a few of the things I learned while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina! I’ll begin with my presentation topic of the private system, which you must have insurance in order to utilize. These hospitals tended to be much cleaner and more organized than…
Author: Meghan Phillips
10/10 Rating for Day 10
Day 10! Today was another day in the University of Austral building in downtown Buenos Aires. Our first lesson discussed the public healthcare sector and Ministry of Health, presented to us by the Ministry of Health National Director. She was previously a NICU director and coordinator, as well as did a pediatric residence and a…
OMINT and Watermelon Mints
Day 9! Today we visited an Austral building to discuss prepaid insurance companies, such as the commercial company OMINT, which is a private healthcare plan that is paid out-of-pocket. Other commercial companies include SMG, Medicus, and Galeno. They were created in 1967 as a for-profit payer. They do not own any hospitals, but they pay…
Quick Trip to Uruguay!
Day 8! After waking up bright and early at 6am, our group took a bus to a huge airport-looking boat dock called Buquebus. There was a cute little shop where we would get breakfast and coffee. I ended up ordering a slice of chocolate and vanilla swirl bread, and Cami got a lemon loaf that…
Peronism and Healthcare Politics
Day 7! Today, we did a walking tour of Recoleta, exploring the city and learning about the history of the different areas. I found it very interesting that Recoleta has a section of the city in which many British immigrants moved, and there is a large clock tower donated to Argentina by Britain in this…
Roaming through Hospitals in Recoleta
Day 6! First, we visited Santatorio Mater Dei, a private hospital in the neighborhood of Palermo. This nonprofit was created in 1975 in a privileged location by the Schoenstatt Sister of Mary Community. They are Confessional Catholic, and there are Sisters that live next to the hospital and work there. This private hospital does not…
City vs. Municipalities
Day 5! Today we visited the public Matanza Hospital. This is the biggest county of Buenos Aires, with a dense population of approximately three million people. This is a similar population size compared to the city of Buenos Aires. The area has poverty, security, and low income issues. Unlike Buenos Aires, Matanza receives funding only…
Tigre Tour and San Isidro ICU
Day 3! We began the day with a Tigre River Tour, with a focus on emergency primary care. We were able to go through a facility and take a short tour through the mobile boat healthcare center. The boat docks at different schools and locations, having nurses whom perform many jobs: from emergency CPR to…
Día Dos 🇦🇷
Day 2! Our first stop today was to the Tomas Reggio Primary Health Center, a healthcare facility funded primarily by municipalities and donations. They offer free yearly checkups for children, as well as other free services and medicines for other general patients. They rely solely on paper records, and all patient clinical histories were written…
Buenos Días from Buenos Aires!
Day 1 in Argentina! Right off the plane, the presence of palm trees and bright sun tricked me into thinking it would be warm, but the weather was cool and made me wish I had brought a thicker jacket. On the bus ride to the city, I noticed some areas seemed to be built to…
Next Stop: Argentina!
Hi, my name is Meghan Phillips! I am a nursing student and working toward a Global Health Certificate. Here at Pitt, I am an active member of Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority, Nursing Student Association, and YoungLife. I love serving my community through clubs on campus, and I am looking forward to further serving the…