#pcp15 | Rewards of Serving the Underserved—the Joys of Rural Practice.

Rewards of Serving the Underserved—the Joys of Rural Practice.

By Dr Editha Miguel, Ospital ng Palawan

Community-based internal medicine practice is both challenging and rewarding. One should be able to cultivate the right character through generosity, integrity, excellence, service above gain, compassion, humility and innovativeness. The scarcity of internists in rural practice poses a challenge to make right connection with local colleagues, joining local societies and, government organizations (GOs, GAs and NGOs). In the community, the opportunity to make a great impact on health outcomes by introducing innovative health care delivery and empowering local health care partners (eg BHWS) to develop health programs for the community. At the end of the day, community-based is rewarding: there is good return of investment, holistic flourishing of medical practices and getting due respect from colleagues, local leaders and community people.

Summarized by: Elizabeth Ching, MD, Arriane Evangelista MD