Exchange Between Mexican and Oregon Doctors Aims To Improve Care for Mexican Americans

More than two dozen doctors and nurses from five Mexican states last week ended a two-week visit to Portland, Ore., during which they observed area hospitals and clinics and compared treatment strategies, the Portland Oregonian reports. The visit was part of an exchange arranged by a group of Clackama's County Community College nursing instructors. After noting that Oregon's Mexican American population had grown by 151% in the last decade, the group determined that hiring interpreters and hanging signs in Spanish was "not enough." Thus, the group arranged a trip last year for 15 Oregon health workers to tour clinics, hospitals and health departments in Mexico. This past week, 14 Mexican doctors and nurses "shadowed" the Oregon doctors in their exam rooms, classrooms and clinics and with the help of interpreters, discussed subjects such as pain management, prescription drugs, diet and infectious diseases. As a result of the exchange program, Judith Andersen, a nursing instructor at the community college, is beginning a program attempting to bring more Mexican-American nurses to Oregon. Through the program, the potential nurses would be licensed in the state and would take classes in English and medical terminology (Lawton, Portland Oregonian, 7/27).