Description:

Maximo Nivel’s medical and healthcare projects provide volunteers with the opportunity to work in hospitals, clinics, assisted living, and other healthcare facilities.

In Latin America, hospitals and clinics for low income families often lack funding and staff, making it difficult to keep the most vulnerable populations healthy. By volunteering in a medical placement you are truly making a difference in the lives of hospital professionals and their patients. You also have the chance to take part in week-long medical campaigns, vaccination programs; and you learn about healthcare systems in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru.

What will you do as a volunteer?

Healthcare
Medical School-Years 1 & 2 | Pre-Med Students | Nursing School | Health Sciences
Healthcare placements are available for people who are not licensed and/or who are still completing their training. These volunteer projects are generally located in specialized living facilities and involve working with people who are physically or mentally disabled, assisting elderly patients, or working with HIV infected children or adults. Volunteers assist with all facets of caring for the patients, including general care and companionship, distributing/sorting medications, feeding, bathing, and ensuring patients’ overall well-being. This might include changing beds, conversation-talk therapy, workshops (e.g. exercise, dental care), and even arts and crafts.

Medical
Licensed Medical Professionals | Medical School-Years 3 & 4
Medical placements provide volunteers with the opportunity to work in hospitals, clinics, assisted living, and other healthcare facilities. Volunteers usually work alongside doctors, nurses, therapists, or other medical professionals, though this is not always the case. Responsibilities and type of work depends a great deal on the placement available and what is happening at the project. Depending on your medical experience and Spanish language skills, volunteers may do things such as: shadow a doctor or nurse, assist with general check-ups, run medical campaigns, assist with triage, take blood pressure and other vital signs, organize patient records, prepare materials and equipment, and assist during mealtimes.

Your level of involvement at medical and healthcare projects is most determined by:
– Level of training and demonstrated expertise
– Spanish language skills
– Personality—initiative and ability to connect with people at the project
– Duration of your program