Subsidised Dispensary and Clinic

[Fran Sheffield]

Hello all,

I am considering starting a subsidised clinic in the coming year for
people groups who usually do not come to private practices - ie., from
poverty, mental health problems, physical or mental disability,
elderly, institutionalised, etc.

If anyone on the list has done this sort of work, can you discuss
your experience with the pitfalls and what has worked and what hasn't?

I mainly prescribe in liquid potencies in private practice because I
can give followup guidance over the phone. This sort of support will
not be available with the Clinic I am thinking of and I will only be
able to see people once a fortnight. As such, I am thinking of doing
more dry dose prescribing so I get length of reaction without the the
problems that inappropriate dosing of liquids can bring.

I would also like to provide education re homeopathy and a dispensary
of inexpensive remedies so that homeopathy can make its way back into
the community at a grass roots level and perhaps amongst people who
are often excluded from homeopathic care.

Any suggestions on this or anythijhng else that comes to mind would be
appreciated.

--
Best regards,
Fran mailto:FranSheffield@homeopathyplus.com.au

[David Little]

At 05:53 PM 12/18/2005, you wrote:

Dear Fran,

I have run many free clinics and also done outreach village camps where
we do volume practice. This work is type of work is wonderful and helps
bring homeopathy to the common people. The working conditions can be
difficult and the case load heavy but it inspiring. It also helps one learn
their remedies in a very practical way that works in a front-line situation.
The main difference between private practice and public service is the
time constants and patient load. One rarely has the option of 1 to 2 hour
appointments! When working with groups and institutions one usually does
not have that much time. One has to take good basic case and stay with the
most proven remedies and their clear characteristics rather then get too
esoteric and subjective. One also sees quite a lot of cases that have
rather advanced mental and physical pathology so one must study up on the
medical texts so they know what they are dealing with. This also helps
one's prescribing and case management skills.
I find no problems using the medicinal solutions under these conditions.
The duration of the dry dose is not inherently longer then the duration of
the liquid dose of the same potency. In fact, the exposure of the liquid
remedy to more nerves can make it act longer. When I can not follow the
case closely I just use single liquid doses, infrequent repetitions and the
wait and watch method. This is a sometimes slower but it is a sure method
under these conditions. If I am confident that I understand the duration of
a remedy's action, and trust the patient, I may set up a schedule of
repeated doses but I always remain on the conservative side in my
suggestions. If I am worried about self medication I use placebos to
satisfy the patient. In this case they may have two remedies marked 1 and 2.
If every homeopath tithed only 5 percent of their time to selfless
service to the community we would be living in a different world.
Homeopathy in the West is often quite exclusive and for the more elite. In
India there are quite a few free clinics as the government hospitals and
clinics and some ashrams do great work. We should serve the poor and
underprivileged whenever possible. I commend you for your desire to do
selfless service to humanity. It is not always easy but it is always rewarding.
Let me know what the conditions, cases and caseload is like when the
time comes and I will try to help you if I can.
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[Shannon Nelson]

Amen to that!
Homeopaths, and everyone else too.

[doctorleelah2h]

Hi Fran,
I worked in a clinical like this for about 8 years. BAsically it was
a Mother-Child Care Programme of a Convent. I attended once a week,
but saw the same group of pateints once a month, unless they came to
see me specifically.

the practical diffculties encountered were:
SOmeone reliable to make up the remedy prescriptions and instruct
patients how to take them accurately.
Taking an adequate history to make a quick precription.
Also explaining to the patients what to expect with homeopathic treatment.

Very rarely I was able to treat a case chronically, as in take the
complete constitutional history, as there were lines of upto 50 people
on some days.

I think what will help most is to be able to take a quick case and
find the indicated remedy with the help of repertorial software. I
think if I had that facility at that time, I would have done a better
job - its easier to get through a line of 25-50 patients that way.
Sometimes one gets to a constitutional remedy in this manner itself.

Actually in India, homeopathy is the medicine of the poor.
Hope this helps,
leela
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Fran Sheffield wrote: