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Bucharest, Romania
Summary
Situated in the city of Bucharest, capital of Romania, Open Door Medical Center is a full-service family medicine clinic that primarily serves low-income Romanians, gypsies, and refugees from Africa and the Middle East. Services include prenatal care and well-child care, geriatrics, and preventive care. The medical staff includes Drs. Milton and Linda Hanson, associate professors with University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
Teaching is a key vision of Open Door Medical Center. A one-year internship in family medicine is offered to Romanian doctors, and American residents in family medicine regularly come work at Open Door. Emphasis is placed on clinical judgment and outpatient procedures, as well as the ethics and morality of medicine.
LocationOpen Door Medical Center is situated in the city of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Bucharest has 2.5 million residents, and is very densely populated. Ethnically speaking, most people are Romanian, accompanied by some gypsies, Germans and people from the Middle East. Romania has a very small middle class, and most people are quite poor.
TransportationPlan to fly into the city of Bucharest, which is served by several major airlines. The airport tax when leaving Romania is about $10.
Visa RequirementAmericans can receive a visa at the airport to stay for up to 30 days. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the website for the Romanian embassy in Washington D.C. at http://www.roembus.org/
Medical LicenseResident physicians do not need a temporary license to practice in Romania. Open Door Med Center will notify the Ministry of Health about visiting residents who are coming to practice at the facility.
Traveler's Health & SafetyPlease check the CDC travel website for the most up-to-date health information: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. Hepatitis B and C are endemic to Romania, but assure hepatitis A and B vaccinations are up to date. Bucharest has significant air pollution that may worsen asthma and other lung diseases. Be certain to pack whatever personal medications you may need, as many drugs are difficult to purchase.
Visitors are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information regarding travel advisories: http://www.state.gov/travel. Visitors are advised to regularly check the U.S. State Department website for the most up-to-date information regarding country specific travel information http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html
FacilityOpen Door Medical center is a full-service family medicine clinic opened in 2002. Services include prenatal care and well-child care, geriatrics, and preventive care. Those who require inpatient care are referred to government hospitals, as are women for deliveries. The largest numbers of patients are seen during June and July. August has the lowest patient volume, and is the usual vacation month in Romania.
WebsitePlease visit Open Door Medical Ministries at http://www.odmm.org
PatientsMost patients are very low-income Romanians, many of whom make less than $40 per month. The Romanian government provides no safety net medical care, and most low-income persons simply go without, but for the charity care offered at Open Door. Refugees from Africa, and Iraqis and Iranians living in Romania also frequent Open Door Medical Center, as do some Americans and Western Europeans living in Romania.
Medical StaffOpen Door's two physicians are a husband and wife team. Milton and Linda Hanson are associate professors with University of Minnesota School of Medicine. They first came to Romania in 1994, learned the Romanian language, received their hard-won Romanian medical licenses, and then initiated the Open Door Medical Foundation in 1997 with the goal of starting a family medicine teaching clinic. The Hansons are presently assisted by a social worker. Plans are in place to add a dentist and a psychologist in the near future.
LanguageMost all patients speak Romanian. All clinic employees and staff also speak English and can provide translation. Some refugees from the Middle East speak English. Some Romanians speak French or Italian as well.
Student ExperienceTeaching is a key vision of Open Door Medical Center. A one-year internship in family medicine is offered to Romanian doctors, and Open Door usually has one to two Romanian resident physicians. American residents in family medicine regularly come work at Open Door for one to two months at a time. Emphasis is placed on medical knowledge, "hands on" clinical judgment and outpatient procedures, as well as the ethics and morality of medicine. Students and residents are continuously supervised in their patient care.
Student Lodging & MealsThe clinic has a small apartment for visitors on the 2nd floor with a queen bed, shower, kitchenette and library for relaxing. Visitors may purchase their own food and prepare their own meals for a nominal expense. Restaurants are also readily available.
CommunicationThe medical center has telephone service and Internet access. The charge for calls to the US is about 12 cents per minute.
DiversionAn American-style shopping mall is located 1 mile away from the medical center.
Facility SupportINMED invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to donate to support the facility. This is not required but allows INMED participants to become involved in every aspect of medical missions.
DressWomen may wear slacks. Men wear collared shirts, and rarely wear ties to work.
Medical center staff often wear lab coats.
What To PackBe sure to pack a carry on-bag that has your essentials just in case your luggage becomes lost. Also, it's usually best to bring two suitcases, each half full. This way you will have space to pack souvenirs for the return trip. Just about anything you may need can be bought in Romania.