All medical volunteers and trainers/mentors must speak at least intermediate level Spanish. Only exceptions: OB/GYNs surgeons, and a few specialists. Intermediate Spanish is defined as the ability to: • Speak, read and write in the present, past (preterit and imperfect), and future tenses (ir + a + infinitive construction sufficient). • Understand everything said by Spanish speakers, conversing at a rapid pace. • Interview, examine and treat Spanish-speaking patients without an interpreter.
FAQs
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There are various options, listed in with the quickest, most comfortable and costly first. Private van — We can arrange a private van to pick you up at your hotel or at the airport. If you arrive on an evening flight, we recommend that you spend the night in Guatemala City, as the travel time to Santiago Atitlan is 3.5 hours or more. With a private van, the driver can take you shopping (cheese, wine, things you cannot find in SA) and make any stops you want along the way. Cost: Q1050 or about $140. To schedule a private van pickup, please email volunteer coordinator Lidia Sojuel prior to your departure with all flight arrival information, so that your flight can be monitored. We cannot arrange airport pickups without your airline and flight information. If there are any flight delays, please email Lidia with updates. The driver will be waiting for you as you exit the airport. If you cannot find one another, go to the information center and contact the driver (5346-5911) or the volunteer coordinator (4888-9791). Please carry these numbers with you on your flight. Tourist shuttles — Shuttles run by Atitrans can pick you up at your hotel […]
Registered nurse volunteers work regular shifts alongside Guatemalan nurses under the supervision of the hospital’s head nurse. Nurse volunteers have been instrumental in providing additional expertise to their Guatemalan colleagues, whose training is very different. Requirements are: • A minimum four-week commitment. • Advanced Spanish language ability. • A minimum two years-experience in your field.
Although we appreciate volunteer specialists, the hospital is not capable of providing all types of specialty care to its patients. We encourage specialist to check the Specialties Needed list or to contact us. Requirements are: • A minimum of two years-experience in your field (except for residents). • An unrestricted license. • A letter attesting to your good standing in your residency program. There are no time or language requirements.
These are special requirements for obstetricians, medical specialists and nurses: • Minimum four-week commitment. • Minimum intermediate Spanish. • Minimum two-years experience in your field (except for residents) • Unrestricted license. • Written proof of good standing in your professional or residency program. Medical students: Check for special requirements.
Every medical volunteer must fill out an application for review by Hospitalito administration. Clinicians cannot work in the hospital unless they have been formally accepted and had their work dates confirmed in writing. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Guatemala now requires that all volunteers working in the country receive either a short-term work permit or a Guatemalan medical license (good for two years). To be accepted, you will have to provide copies of the following documents for review by the Colegio Médico two months prior to arrival: Diploma* Specialty Diploma* Medical license* (should not expire before your volunteer dates) Residents must include a letter from their university supervisor. *These documents must be notarized. The packet must also include a document identifying the notary as a public officer constituted by law.
Once our volunteer coordinator has accepted you as a volunteer, you will receive a document listing the housing options in Santiago Atitlán, which includes descriptions and prices. You can also go online to check out and make reservations at the better local hotels: Bambu Hotel: www.ecobambu.com Hotel Tiosh Abaj: www.tioshabaj.com
Guatemala can be very inexpensive. However, there are good restaurants and tempting items to buy that can upset even the best-planned budget. Restaurant meals run between $3 and $10 for breakfast and lunch and more for dinner. The trip across the lake to Panajachel or San Pedro costs around $6 round-trip. If you watch your spending, prepare food at home, walk or take the Q3-5 transportation around town, you can get by on about $50 per week (excluding housing). However, you should budget more if you are bringing a family. We have a few ATMs in town so you can take out cash while in Santiago.
There are several Internet cafes in town that charge $1/hour. Several coffee shops have Wi-Fi available with purchase of food or a beverage. Wireless Internet is available at the Hospitalito, free of charge. Cell phones are sold in town for $20 or Q150. Local calls cost Q1 per minute; calls to the US are Q2 (25 cents) per minute. US cell phones generally do not work in Guatemala. Check with your provider to see if you can purchase a special SIM card that will allow you to make calls within Guatemala, as well as international calls. There is a kiosk in the airport that offers SIM cards (next to the exchange kiosk). Another inexpensive way to call other countries is through Skype or other Internet-based phone services.
The following are some tips for staying healthy while in Guatemala: • Use purified water for drinking and when brushing your teeth. • Soak fruits and vegetables in water with a few drops of chlorine, iodine or other disinfectants. • Eat street food at your own risk!