When Dr. Diana Arévalo, a concierge physician with WestDocs Concierge in Mount Kisco, New York, traveled to Guatemala on a recent medical mission trip, her goal extended beyond treating individual patients at the Holy Trinity Hospital. She hoped to help strengthen the local healthcare system, expand access to preventative care, and support a community where medical resources are often difficult to obtain.
The mission took Dr. Arévalo to Río Blanco, a small town in Guatemala’s northwestern San Marcos region. Located high in the mountains, the hospital serves a largely rural, indigenous population that faces significant barriers to healthcare access. The Holy Trinity Hospital was established through the vision and perseverance of the Rayitos Del Sol nonprofit organization, founded by Doña Dorita, Don Victor, and their family, whose years of investment and effort made the hospital possible.
Meeting Patients Where They Are
A portion of Dr. Arévalo’s work involved seeing patients alongside four local physicians. The doctors treated a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, joint pain, chronic lung diseases such as COPD, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Many patients arrived with conditions that had progressed far beyond what physicians in the United States typically encounter. Without widespread access to insurance, most healthcare expenses are paid out of pocket, causing many people to delay seeking care until symptoms become severe.
“One of the biggest differences is that people often avoid medical care because of the cost,” Dr. Arévalo explained. “There is concern about paying for medications, laboratory tests, or even basic imaging. As a result, illnesses are frequently more advanced by the time patients are seen.”
For Dr. Arévalo, that reality gave the work its meaning.
“What matters most to me is being able to help people who truly need it,” she said. “It is very different from my practice at home, where most of my work is preventive. There, I was caring for people who are genuinely sick and have never had the chance to access treatment. In a single visit I cannot do everything, but I can show them a path forward and help them see that something can be done. My hope is that this is what makes the difference.”
Building Awareness Around Preventative Care
While treating patients was a priority, a major focus of the mission also included helping community members understand the value of preventative medicine.
The hospital’s leadership is working to change perceptions about healthcare and encourage residents to seek care before a crisis occurs. Dr. Arévalo contributed to educational efforts designed to explain the hospital’s services and the importance of routine medical visits. Through community outreach and educational presentations, patients learned about primary care, pediatric services, prenatal care, specialty care, and why regular checkups can help prevent serious health complications.
“The goal was to help people view the hospital as a place that keeps you healthy, not just somewhere you go when you’re critically ill,” she shared.
As a concierge physician with WestDocs Concierge, Dr. Arévalo brought a patient-centered perspective to these efforts. She emphasized listening carefully to each patient and addressing as many concerns as possible during a single visit, recognizing that follow-up opportunities may be limited.
Strengthening Hospital Operations
Much of Dr. Arévalo’s time was spent working behind the scenes in close collaboration with hospital leadership and staff.
Although the hospital did have dedicated providers and essential resources, there was an opportunity to improve organization, workflows, and operational structure. Dr. Arévalo helped evaluate how services were delivered, identify areas for greater efficiency, and establish clearer protocols and responsibilities among team members.
These improvements may not be visible to patients immediately, but they have a clear potential to leave a lasting impact on the hospital’s ability to provide consistent, high-quality care.
Gratitude, Perspective, and Hope
Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Arévalo described a mix of emotions.
“It was incredibly gratifying to be able to help people and support the community,” she said. “The warmth and kindness of the patients and families was something I’ll never forget.”
What stayed with her most was the effort behind the hospital itself.
“It was so moving to see the enormous effort this family has made to give their community access to healthcare,” she said. “They have invested their time, their money, and years of work into building this hospital, and they welcomed me into that effort. Being able to contribute was a privilege.”
At the same time, witnessing the challenges surrounding healthcare access struck her deeply. The realities of financial barriers, limited resources, and delayed treatment underscored how much work remains to be done in underserved communities. Despite those challenges, the trip reinforced the power of education, preventative care, and community-based healthcare initiatives.
For Dr. Arévalo, the experience served as a reminder that improving health outcomes often involves more than treating disease. It requires building trust, expanding access, educating communities, and creating systems that allow people to receive care before problems become crises.
To help support bringing medical resources, equipment, and patient care into Holy Trinity Hospital and the community it serves, please consider donating via Rayitos Del Sol.
About Dr. Diana Arévalo and WestDocs Concierge
Dr. Diana Arévalo is a concierge physician with WestDocs Concierge in Mount Kisco, New York. She provides personalized, patient-centered primary care to individuals and families across Northern Westchester, including Bedford Hills, Katonah, Chappaqua, and Bedford. To learn more about concierge medicine with WestDocs Concierge, visit [insert WestDocs Concierge URL].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is concierge medicine?
Concierge medicine is a membership-based model of primary care in which a physician cares for a smaller number of patients. This allows for longer appointments, direct access to your doctor, and a strong focus on preventative, personalized care.
Where is WestDocs Concierge located?
WestDocs Concierge is based in Mount Kisco, New York, serving patients throughout Northern Westchester, including Bedford Hills, Katonah, Chappaqua, and Bedford.
Who is Dr. Diana Arévalo?
Dr. Diana Arévalo is a concierge physician with WestDocs Concierge in Mount Kisco. She focuses on preventative, patient-centered primary care and has supported community health initiatives, including a recent medical mission to rural Guatemala.