Preparations continue for my trip. I spoke with the director of the clinic, Dr. Jeffries about some of the specifics. Apparently, between ground zero in Haiti and Santo Domingo there is little else that has any sophistication. As a result some of the more complicated cases are being referred in, while many others less acute moving out. Most of the work now seems to be wound care, revision and reconstructive surgeries.

The clinic/hospital is located in Jimani, DR and is due east from Port au Prince.


View Larger Map

I spoke with Dr. Benjamin Lind, a vascular fellow at Rush University in Chicago who came back from Haiti last week. He reported that conditions in Port-au-Prince were still quite severe and that, although critically important, the surgical care they could provide was limited by the conditions. His hope is that our situation, being a little removed and still able to maintain some organization will be most productive.

I also have been collecting materials and supplies needed for our efforts and for the IMA facilities. This is a fascinating social situation, and I heard about this recently on an NPR radio report. The outpouring of support has resulted in an influx of supplies, often so much that facilities are literally buried in materials. As a result, they can often not find the needed instrument or medication because it is buried somewhere beneath so much other stuff. Dr. Jeffries reported that they are only now finding some of the surgical instruments needed and that they are flush with sutures, dressing supplies, etc (at least for now). It seems that the most efficient way of contributing is money so your relief effort of choice can purchase what they really need, when they need it.

I have been on medical missions before and many of our colleagues volunteer regularly. There is a routine of leaving boxes around the hospital and OR where supplies that would normally be discarded are collected and delivered to the mission. While effective, I've learned this is not always the most efficient for the reasons I described above. I want to give recognition and congratulations to Medwish (www.medwish.org) a cleveland organization that collects these items, inventories them and will deliver the needed supplies upon request. I called them yesterday and they are truly a professionally arranged organization, very efficient and a pleasure to deal with. They fulfill a serious need and I thank them.

More to come.

Please visit the International Medical Alliance website: www.imaonline.org


BRK