Specialized reconstructive surgery in rural zones of Mexico.

Abstract

Background: the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social program known as Surgical Encounters was created in 1996 to provide specialized medical and surgical care to the rural and indigenous population, the most marginalized group in the country, and to provide them health care at IMSS-Oportunidades rural hospitals by volunteer personnel. The aim of this paper is to describe the organization, logistics before, during and after the Encounter and the main results of operating room procedures. 

Methods: fifty-seven Surgical Encounters had been carried out. During each encounter, three basic courses were given: The ABC of Plastic Surgery for rural medical practitioners with workshops for local dentists; Surgical Principles for Rural Nurses, and a Cardio-Pulmonary Reanimation course.

Results: they included 7,700 patients who were diagnosed and 4306 of these underwent to a surgical intervention (55.9 %) with a total of 5,025 surgical procedures. 

Conclusions: the importance of this interaction between physicians, rural nurses and specialists at the most marginalized populations areas in the country must be emphasize as an action that lead to equity in health services.