All’s Well That Ends Well: Our NicaClinic Team Responds to Another Emergency

Dear Friend of our NicaClinic,

Today I’m sharing an emergency report sent to our Board detailing a recent rapid-response case involving our medical team.

This message comes from our Executive Medical Director, Dr. Hazel Ruiz.

Don’t worry, it ended well.

Take good care,

Julia Guth, Chair

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Emergency case report: Dr. Hazel Ruiz, Executive Medical Director, The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic, November 2025.

Dear Board,

I’m sharing a case report from Monday, November 3, involving an 85-year-old female patient from the Cuascoto 1 community.

We received a call from a family member requesting assistance because his grandmother had fallen and was experiencing severe pain in one of her legs and chest.

We dispatched the ambulance with a paramedic and nurse, whose commitment to the Clinic’s mission and vision for the well-being of our patients I want to highlight.

The area of ​​Cuascoto where the patient lives is difficult to access. They had to leave the ambulance at a certain point and walk more than 600 meters to evacuate the patient, as you can see in the photo, through very muddy terrain and across streams.

The patient had fallen on Sunday after tripping, sustaining a contusion to her left knee and anterior chest, with a history of a left hip fracture, which further complicated her mobility.

Upon being seen and evaluated at the Clinic by the on-duty doctor, it was determined that she needed to be referred to a second level of care for follow-up at the Rivas Hospital.

In addition to the trauma, the patient presented a hypertensive crisis, an emergency requiring immediate transfer (given that these patients can develop other complications following trauma, such as pulmonary thromboembolism).

This underscores the importance we place on our Clinic providing 24/7 emergency care, as well as our commitment as an institution, demonstrating that every resource is dedicated to helping those most in need.

Kind regards,

Dra. Hazel Ruiz Villarreal

The Roberto Clemente Clinic in Tola, Nicaragua, serves over 20,000 patient visits annually, providing essential healthcare services to our community. To support our Executive Team’s vision and help us continue our mission, please consider making a small donation today or sharing our story with others who might join our cause. Your support goes a long way in Nicaragua.