Boquete Health and Hospice Has a New Medical Director
Dra. Digna Diaz has graciously agreed to be the new medical director of Boquete Health and Hospice. Dra. Diaz was the guest speaker at the BHH April General Meeting. Dra. Diaz is the founder of Boquete Medical Associates. The initial objective of the clinic is to provide emergency services. She is currently looking at property to build a clinic in the Boquete area. The plan is to expand the services and to bring specialists to Boquete and to assist clients with access to medication through a US pharmacy.
For more information about the website go to https://www.boquetemedical.com/ On the website you will be able to find more information about the clinic membership plan, the doctors and specialists and the office hours and telephone numbers.
Dra. Diaz answered questions on a range of topics. There was a question about access to anti-venom for snake bites. Since the anti-venom doesn't have a long shelf life extensive supplies are not feasible. It should, however, be available at the Social Security Clinic in Boquete.
One member described a choking incident in a restaurant where he was choking and no one in the restaurant knew how to handle it. This story reflects the need for more training in the community about how to handle emergencies like choking. Dra. Diaz offered to help BHH arrange Basic Life Support Training which covers CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. The initial training will take place with BHH members and guests; and in the future, restaurant employees and interested community members can be trained.
For medical emergencies, specifically heart attack or stroke, call the ambulance- Dra. Boya 6728-3098 or Rodny Direct members can call Rodny. For other medical emergencies you can call Dra. Diaz until 10 pm: 6615-6740. During the off hours you can call Keep it Simple Panama 6705-9845.
Hip Surgery in Panama, Boquete Health and Hospice Can Help!
Recently Boquete Health and Hospice has been helping people having hip replacement surgeries experience a positive transition to recovering at home. BHH has provided an array of aides to make the return home safe and to assist with the rehabilitation phase. The equipment includes bath bench, bedside commode/raised toilet seat, walker, crutches and a cane. A recent hip replacement patient said, "Thank goodness for Boquete Health and Hospice, they made my home experience so much better after the surgery."
If you have to have hip replacement surgery in your future be sure to call BHH FIRST!
Being Prepared Part 1 Getting Started/Restarted
Once again the Being Prepared Part 1 presentation was held at BCP to a standing room only audience on May 22. Thank goodness our community of Boquete Expats is interested in learning how to deal with emergencies and end of life in Panama. One important request was for all to have a local doctor. There are two public clinics and four private clinics in Boquete. Check out Chiriqui.life for contact information for our local doctors.
Boquete Health and Hospice Presents Being Prepared Part 2: The Living Will and Last Will
May 29 at BCP at 10:30
Do you need an attorney to develop your living will? Is your last will from your homeland valid in Panama?
Juan Contreras, a Boquete attorney, will address Panamanian Living Wills and Last Wills. There will also be time for questions.
Book Corner 
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Paul Kalanithi's life was full of promise. He was in his residency training in neuro-surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. His previous academic accomplishments were impressive; a BA in human biology and a Masters in English literature from Stanford, a Masters in history and philosophy of science and medicine from Cambridge, and graduating cum laude from Yale University School of Medicine. However, after some health issues and numerous tests, his life changed when he was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer; he was 36 years old and a non-smoker.
Transitioning from doctor to patient, Paul reflected on what would be most important to him in the time he had left. His passion became this book, which chronicles his illness, his days as a neurosurgeon, the birth of his daughter, and his strength and dignity in facing terminal cancer.
I recommend it as a how-to book on living when faced with illness, death, and dying (emphasis on "living") and close with Dr. Atul Gawande's comments: "Rattling, heartbreaking, and ultimately beautiful, the too-young Dr. Kalanithi's memoir is proof that the dying are the ones who have the most to teach us about life."
Book review by BHH member Kay Wade May Health Tip
Vote for our Video! Click on the link below to watch our informational video. From June 1-15 you can vote for this video on the Boquete Film Festival competition. Be watching for the link on News Boquete, Facebook, Chiriqui Life and Boquete.ning. We appreciate your vote!
https://youtu.be/EbYmYqBRs3Y Our Mission Our Mission is to provide palliative care for the terminally ill in order that they experience death with dignity; to inform and promote community health; and, to support people with health and wellness needs by providing information, equipment and volunteer services. 
To Make a Donation: BHHF functions with the donations provided by the community. If you are interested in supporting the work we do, please make a donation. To make a financial contribution by check or cash contact Merl Will-Wallace, our treasurer, at
dharma49@icloud.com to arrange a place and time to pick up your donation.
For more information, visit our website:
www.boquetehealth.org We also have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/boqueteheartshandsandhelp/?ref=bookmarks Please Like our page and Share the contents with your friends and families.
To Contact Us Hospice/Health: 507.6781.9250
Blood Donor Program: 507.6590.2000
E-mail:
boquetehospice@gmail.com E-mail:
boquetehealth@gmail.com Confidentiality All patient information shared with any Boquete Health and Hospice volunteer is kept in the strictest confidence.
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