Pilot Program Date: Feb 14-22, 2008

The MedCore is a unique opportunity for doctors, nurses and physician’s assistants to learn and share their medical knowledge in a rural clinic setting in the Andes highlands. Unlike the Relief Medic program, lodging is provided at a mid- to -high range level and most of the transportation is by private vehicle. 

The following itinerary is subject to change. Actual clinic locations are sometimes not decided until a month before the departure date. People who choose to participate in MedCore must be flexible with the conditions of the program. Clinics may be held in several locations during the course of the week. MedCore programs are an intense week of cultural immersion in a rural clinic setting, where as a group, we may see up to 300 patients in one day or as little as 30. Those who have never had to provide care in a second language will find themselves by the end comfortably conducting medical assessments in Spanish.

*Please note lodging is mid-range and we will travel by private vehicle..

Day 1: Arrive in Quito. Met at airport and escorted to accommodations.
Day 2: Transport to highland region. Typical Andean day temperatures range around 60 to 80F, evenings will drop to 50-60F. Orientation and training.
Day 3: Clinic day at outreach site..
Day 4: Clinic.
Day 5 - Free Day
Day 6 - Clinic Day
Day 7: - Clinic Day.
Day 8: Free Day
Day 9: Transfer Out. (Some may choose to continue traveling in Ecuador, Galapagos) - Ask us about trip extensions.

Land Cost: $1685.00

Cost includes: Orientation, specialized guides, interpreters, medications and medical equipment needed for clinics, CEMOPLAF clinic staff to set up outreach, donation to CEMOPLAF for their services, all lodging based on double occupancy, meals (BLD), mid-range lodging, ground transportation, airport transfer

Does not include: Lunch on free day, travel insurance, personal expenses, airport tax ($38), cost of activities not included in the itinerary, travel extensions

Minimum: 6 participants
Maximum: 10 participants

HOW MEDCORE WORKS?

Core Expeditions works with various not-for-profit organizations in Ecuador. For MedCore in particular, we work with CEMOPLAF and support their rural clinics by providing medical professionals and trained laymen.

Essentially, the non-profit organization (in this case CEMOPLAF) serves as the liaison between our group and the local community. CEMOPLAF is best able to assess the needs of the community and helps us identify where a clinic is either most needed and/or most practical.

Core Expeditions’ responsiblity is to the participants in the program, providing travel logistics including lodging, meals and transportation, as well as providing the training, and orientation needed to understand the needs of the local community

REGIONS

Saquisili
The town of Saquisili is located approximately 2 1/2 hours south of Quito. It is a quiet indigenous town except on Thursdays when it hosts one of the largest markets in the highlands. Unlike Otavalo market which caters to tourists, Saquisili is truly an authentic local market.

Otavalo and surrounding areas.
The town of Otavalo is famous for its market. The market is open every day, but on Saturday, the Poncho Plaza market is transformed into sensory overload of wares as the market spills completel over into the streets. The apparent wealth of the town of Otavalo overshadows the poverty right outside its city limits. Surprisingly, the surrounding areas suffer poverty and lack of accessible basic medical care.