Modern Medicine in Rural Areas: How Rural Medical Facilities Have Changed

Rural healthcare facilities are special – one might say, homey, accessible, close, and dear. They have always been like this, but recently, to these characteristics, one can add – modern, equipped with everything necessary for providing medical care in the countryside.

We became convinced of this during our visit to the Dubrovo medical outpatient clinic of the Ushachi Central District Hospital. It is located in a cozy one-story residential building in the center of the village. It moved here from an old, dilapidated building last autumn. Celebrating the housewarming, residents not only of Dubrovo but also of neighboring settlements (the outpatient clinic serves 63 villages) thanked the district authorities, who found considerable funds for the arrangement and equipment of the healthcare facility. Over 9.5 thousand rubles were allocated for repairs, and almost 4 thousand for equipment.

– I have been working in Dubrovo since 1992. So, all the changes have happened before my eyes. Both the material equipment of the medical institution, and the aging of the population, and the related diseases. Previously, the head of the clinic, general practitioner Anna Askerko, and I worked in the rural district hospital. Then it was transformed into a 24-hour ward of the nursing care hospital, and since 2021 it has been repurposed as an outpatient clinic, – says general practice nurse Maria Prudnikova.

The staff of the outpatient clinic is like one big friendly family that lovingly arranges its home. Patients are greeted by kind-hearted people, who are also highly professional medical professionals. However, it is not customary here to say "patients" or "sick people." The doctor and nurse know all their charges by sight and by name, and are aware of their chronic ailments. This is what distinguishes rural medicine, which can be compared to home care. Not only in a figurative sense, but also in a literal one. Maria Prudnikova says that she always has a "first aid kit" at home. Villagers can knock on her door at any time, sometimes late at night. Such calls most often occur in the summer, when grandchildren visit. Someone gets a fever, someone gets a cut.

Medical professionals consider regular health check-ups a good thing. Thanks to the examination of the population, it has been possible to detect diseases that people were unaware of or that did not cause significant discomfort. And, as is known, the earlier treatment begins, the more effective it will be.

If necessary, a person is referred for consultations to a district hospital, a regional clinical diagnostic center, and other institutions. This means that one does not have to live in a big city to receive qualified and comprehensive medical care. Rural outpatient clinics and paramedic-obstetric stations are closest to the people, and first aid on-site is sometimes the most crucial.

The outpatient clinic structure includes four paramedic-obstetric stations, with the farthest point being about 40 km away. When we arrived in Dubrovo, the doctor was out on a house call. Maria Prudnikova and medical registrar Elena Novikova remained on site. In the morning, Maria Alekseevna had already administered IV drips to patients in the day hospital, taken samples, and measured blood pressure and intraocular pressure.

The outpatient clinic is equipped with a modern ECG machine. Elderly people most often complain of heart pain. Common ailments also include vascular diseases, arthritis, arthrosis, radiculitis, and colds. But there are also unusual cases.

– A person came in who had been stung by a hornet. I recognized him only by his voice. His face was swollen, covered with spots and blisters. Before the ambulance arrived, we gave him an injection and an IV drip. Everything turned out fine. We have also dealt with snake bites, – says Maria Prudnikova.

The outpatient clinic serves over 1.2 thousand residents. Among them are many elderly people, those living alone, and individuals with disabilities. Medical staff visit them at home, both on call and for preventive purposes – to examine them and inquire about their well-being. A rural medical worker treats not only the body but also the soul. They talk, smile, and reassure – and the pain recedes. It turns out that it subsides not only from an injection but also from a kind word.

"VITEBSKIE VESTI"