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Some come in limping. Some come in
frowning. Some come in bouncing. And
some just - well – they just come in and
sit. One by one they take a seat on the
new brown leather sofa and look at the
nurse expectantly. Sarah Abdel Khalek
looks up long enough from her current
patient to give them a cursory glance. It
was enough to surmise the ill from the
hypochondriacs.
Regardless, one by one she takes their
vital signs and questions them. And just
in case, students have plans other than
returning to class, she hands out a health
record paper stating the exact time for
entry and exit from the infirmary.
Potential truants don’t look too thrilled as
they walk away.
Abdel Khalek smiles. A registered nurse,
Abdel Khalek looks around the infirmary
with satisfaction. She had heeded the
call of Talal Jundi, IC’s Chief Financial
Officer when first hired. “It is time for
a change,” he told her. As the nurse-in-
charge of the AUB Family Medicine Unit
for several years, she knew exactly the
changes needed. And these changes, to
say the least, have been dramatic.
To begin with, the “look” has gone from
drab white to cheerful multicolored décor
to cater to the mostly under-18 patients.
The filing system was revamped.The
medical history of over 1000 students is
now computerized. Emergency lights,
a direct phone line, lockable store and
medication cabinets, lockable fridge and
even sensor faucets were installed. A
screen for privacy was erected. An LCD
in the waiting area plays health documen-
taries. A direct internet link to AUB’s labs
and x-ray departments was established. A
mission statement was created and new
policies and procedures were adopted.
New infections control measures were
applied (all instruments are sterilized on a
daily basis)
But most important, the infirmary can
now deal with urgent cases immediately.
Among the new medical supplies are
an EKG (Electrocardiography), manual
blood pressure machine, a pulse oxymeter
and IV hydration, first aid kit for sports
and fire accidents, Emergency bag include
CPR, portable oxygen bottles and all the
necessary emergency supplies.
“We now have all the medical supplies
recommended by international stan-
dards,” said Abdel Khalek. “An assess-
ment of a student’s condition can now be
made here. We already used the EKG on
students showing chest pain, palpitations
and high blood pressure.”
As teachers for centuries will testify,
students will find any excuse to leave
class. Feigning a pain is probably the most
common ailment. “I can immediately tell
who is faking,” said Abdel Khalek, “and
99% percent of students who show up to
the infirmary (over 100 per day) are fine
but I still have to do a full assessment of
them all to find that one percent.”
With a student body of 1,400 in the Ras
Beirut campus - it soon became very clear
that Abdel Khaled and her assistant Ali
Fakih, need help. Another Registered
Nurse will begin work in January. Two
doctors take shifts to see patients.
A website that keeps students, parents,
staff and faculty updated on the latest epi-
demics, vaccines and needed medication
will be posted on line soon. Emergency
procedures and the Do’s and Dont’s in
first aid are also included.
Future plans include education and pre-
vention programs throughout the school
and an electronic assessment of patients
sent to the administration and parents.
As soon as she walked into the preteen
and teen world, Abdel Khaled realized
that her duties go well beyond medical
assessments. “Many who walk in the in-
firmary just need to talk and I let them,”
she said. “Many kids have problems. It’s
amazing how quickly a headache disap-
pears once they talk about their prob-
lems.”
And, she soon realized, many other health
problems are related to unhealthy eating
habits.The next mission: a healthier
menu at the cafeteria.
Brown bread, granola and fiber snacks hit
IC’s new cafeterias in the IC Newsletter
Spring issue.
IC’s New Infirmary:
Up to International Standards
“We now have all the medical supplies recommended
by international standards”
16
WINTER
2010