The former Soviet republic of Georgia was a thriving region in the 1980s with modern homes, electricity, phones and water and sewage.

When Georgia wanted independence in the early 90s, the Soviet Union not only cut political ties, but all ties needed to run the country.

Flash forward to 2005. Cattle roam the streets and horse drawn carts travel the pothole-filled roads. There is little upkeep to the once nice homes and buildings of Ozurgeti, Georgia. Electricity is intermittent and other infrastructure does not exist. The Soviets took it down when they left, including healthcare.

But a group of local family medical practitioners met the call and traveled to Georgia to give some much needed instruction and support at the Ozurgeti clinic. Physicians Martha Binn and Cheri Olson made the trip along with nurse Karen Beneke, and nurse practitioner Elizabeth Leschensky.

“It was a unique situation,” said Dr. Martha Binn, who works at Franciscan Skemp's Holmen clinic.

The region has doctors, but they are all specialists and there are no family practitioners, Binn said. Through a partnership with American International Healthcare Alliance and the World Services of La Crosse Inc., 15 specialists volunteered to cross train as family practitioners.

The doctors are being trained with the help of the U.S. and other countries including Great Britain and Japan, said Binn. “The doctors used a British curriculum and we are helping to put what they have learned to practice,” said Binn.

The group went there with three the main objectives, said Binn; to explain the U.S. healthcare system to understand the importance of the family healthcare system; have them understand how the doctors and registered nurses work together as a team and for them to understand the role of prevention in healthcare through teaching about healthy lifestyles.

The group also took over many supplies that the Georgians didn't have - blood pressure cuffs and otoscopes, as well as other basic supplies. Binn said they also had to show them how to use the equipment and some of the doctors had never used an otoscope or a ophthalmoscope to look into a patient's ears or eyes.

Some nurses had to be trained how to do everyday duties like taking blood pressure, said Binn. The nurses in Ozurgeti acted more like receptionists, she said. They brought the patient to the doctor and gave the doctor the charts.

To help remedy this problem, Binn said they trained them by doing role-playing.

After working with the doctors at the Ozurgeti District Hospital, Binn's group held a health conference inviting other health care professionals from the Guria Region. The group went over the training that the 15 doctors had gone through, once again emphasizing their three points of focus.

The cities are about 20 miles apart, Binn said, and they don't socialize between the cities - not because they aren't a warm and friendly people, but a big part may be because of the lack of modern communication. “I think I only saw one regular telephone when I was there.”

The team then gave the Georgian doctors a chance to practice some of their new skills through a health fair. More than 250 people attended that fair, said Binn, all gathered by word of mouth alone. “It was a huge success.”

This is the first time some of the people of Ozurgeti had their health checked in long time, Binn said. The newly trained doctors did various screenings, checked blood pressure and gave out information about good health practices to the people, some who had never had their eyes or blood pressure checked.

Getting the doctors trained in family practice is one accomplishment, said Binn, but getting their facilities in shape is still another challenge.

The clinic had light only through the windows, plaster was falling from the walls and dogs roamed the halls. There were sinks in every room but no running water. It had to be brought in from the city well.

Doctors do not have the respect that they do in the U.S., Binn said. Doctors in Georgia make about the same as grocers, about $45 a month.

“It was a real eye-opening experience,” said Binn.

Contact Tony Nelson at 786-6813 or tony.nelson@lee.net.