Our Patients
Many of the people we serve struggle daily to put food on the table, which is why they often ignore medical problems until they become life threatening. Infant and maternal mortality in Sololá (the department where the Hospitalito is located) is among the highest in the Americas. Sixty-seven (67) percent of Maya children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
In the past, members of the community had to travel to the national hospital in Sololá, an arduous two hour trip – assuming that roads were passable and free from mudslides and debris. Even so, few or none of the staff there speak Tz’utujil. The long journey could be the difference between life and death for a woman in complicated labor or a very sick child. For too long, many local residents choose to remain at home and die rather than make the difficult journey.
Hospitalito Atitlán has provided the community with access to quality healthcare from professionals who speak their language. Committed to making services affordable to everyone, our social workers evaluate patient and family resources and, if needed, provide free medical care for those with limited resources.
The health problems in the Atitlán area reflect those found in other poverty-stricken areas. Children suffer from significant respiratory and diarrheal illnesses as well as the chronic effects of malnutrition. Obstetrical issues are often complex with high levels of pre-eclampsia. Social issues impact the health of both mothers and their babies. Adults suffer from diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by open cook fires at home.
Our Services
Hospitalito Atitlán’s outpatient clinic operates weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (or until the last patient is seen). Since patients often only seek care when they are sick, high-risk individuals are identified and screened at every visit. Medical staff provide acute, urgent, preventive, and treatment services for both adults and children in our nine exam rooms. The hospital also offers emergency, inpatient, and obstetrical care.
Patient Donation
| • Clinic visit | Q50 ($6.00) |
| • Specialist clinic consultation | Q75 to Q125 ($10.00 to $20.00) |
| • Emergency room admission | Q100 ($13.00) |
| • X-ray | Q95 to Q135. ($13.00 to $19.00) |
Our Department of Social Work determines patient discount eligibility based on socioeconomic status. In 2024, she provided $92,735 in free and discounted patient care. Foreigners and tourists are asked to pay double these prices.
Our Building
Hospitalito Atitlán is 25,000 square feet and serves over 1,200 patients a month. It is located on the road between San Lucas Tolimán and Santiago Atitlán. This new facility became a reality when the first floor opened in November 2010, followed by the second floor in December 2011. On August 1, 2022, we expanded our building with the creation of a blood bank, four consultation/procedures rooms, and classrooms for a few nursing school. We were excited to open these facilities in January 2024!
Hospital Facilities
- Four emergency bays
- Four labor and delivery beds
- Five patient consultation rooms
- Two chair dental clinic
- A surgical suite with two operating rooms
- Pre and post-op recovery
- Two physician on-call rooms
- Sixteen (16) inpatient beds
- Elevator for accessibility
- Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Radiology department
- Medical library
- Central sterile supply and central supply departments
- Laundry
- Kitchen
- Administrative/development offices
The building is graced with natural spaces, including a maternity garden with private walkway and a medicinal plant garden.
Staff
We have 65 employees including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and administrative staff. Volunteers from around the world, both medical and non-medical, enhance our team by bringing additional clinical and research expertise.
Since more than 60 percent of our patients speak only Tz’utujil, the local Mayan dialect, Hospitalito staff assist with translation between Tz’utujil and Spanish for both patients and medical volunteers.