Medical Professionals

Orphanage Outreach Health Corps Medical Program 2010

(View Health Corps Medical Clinic/Public Health Education Slideshow)

Overview:
Orphanage Outreach is an American non-profit organization that has been working in the northwest part of the Dominican Republic since 1994. Over 7000 international volunteers have joined us since 1994, with the majority of focus being on education. Originally focused solely on the local orphanages, thanks to volunteer growth the focus has expanded to include additional needs in the community. One area of true need is health education and treatment.

2010 Medical Health Corps Ojectives:
1) Medical professionals will provide needed medical care to the poor Dominican communities near the Haiti border
2) Pre-med and nursing students will provide health education to those same communities and to local Dominican schools
3) Provide American and Canadian pre-medical and nursing students exposure to basic medical clinics

Planned Clinics 2010:
February 20-27
February 27-March 6
March 6-13
March 13-20
March 20-27

Location:
We will be working near Monte Cristi, a small coastal fishing town on the north coast near the Haitian border. Our focus will be on the "batey communities", banana worker communities with limited access to health care.

Week's Overview:
Saturday: Fly into Santiago airport; be picked up by Orphanage Outreach bus
Sunday: Orientation, prep, set-up
Monday-Thursday: Clinic days
Friday: Culture and relax - visit the market at the Haiti/Dominican border, lunch at restaurant, afternoon at national park beach
Saturday:Fly home

Clinic Overview:
The clinics will be held in different rural locations each day, possibly in a small clinic building but more likely in a school or church or even an open-air tin-roofed disco. A team will include a minimum of two physicians. Physican's assistants and nurse practitioners will also be diagnosing patients. Nurses will assist the physican/PA teams as available and as needed. Nurses will also be helping to triage, to manage the pharmacy, and to do health screenings.

Physicians, nurses, physician's assistants, pharmacists, and other health professionals are needed. This would be a good opportunity for a number of members from your staff to participate.

Pre-med and nursing students will also be conducting public health education classes, assisting with the pharmacy, and coordinating crowd organization. We hope that the pre-med and nursing students can observe and participate in the clinic as much as possible.

Families:
There is also an opportunity to bring members of your family on the trip. Non-medical people can be helping with organization and logistics. There is also teaching opportunities - English, reading, and art. Even young children can be productive helping to keep the Dominican children entertained while waiting to visit the doctor.

Dominican Affiliation:
We'll be working with Dr. Miguel Garcia Tatis, a long-time local physician from the Monte Cristi area. Dr. Garcia is a key community leader, and has formerly been the provincial director of public health and the hospital director. Dr. Garcia currently works in the hospital in the mornings, and for the banana cooperative "Banelino" in the afternoons.

Medicines:
1) During the published clinic weeks, we plan to provide each physician with a "Portable Pharmacy-Ready Relief Box" from Heart to Heart International - $7500 of needed medicines, instruments, and supplies to treat an estimated 400-500 people. Physicians, please complete this form, and fax it with a copy of your medical license to Orphanage Outreach at (602) 926-1439.

2) This is the list of meds, equipment, and supplies we are inviting each team to collect as donations. Thirty days prior to your trip, please submit the meds, equipment, and supplies that you are bringing on the trip using this excel spreadsheet, and we will prepare the necessary documentation to bring them through customs. 

Living Facilities:
We will be living in simple but comfortable facilities at the orphanage or the Orphanage Outreach English Institute. Facilities can be compared to summer camp facilities�bunk beds, good toilets/showers, buffet dining. Additional Info.

Costs:
The program fee for the week is $600 for licensed medical professionals. This is our discounted group donation, because you will be supporting pre-med teams joining us during this teim. The program donation covers housing, food, ground transportation, and traveler's medical insurance. What is not covered is a $10 fee to enter the country, snacks, and personal shopping. Airfare is not included. The program fee is tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
A $100 deposit is due when you sign up for the trip; the remaining program fee and flight information is due 30 days prior to the trip.

Flight Arrangements:
Each volunteer is responsible for booking their own airline ticket. We fly into the Santiago (STI) airport. Your program fee includes transportation from and to the airport for all flights arriving and departing on Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. If you arrive or depart outside of these times, there is an additional ground transportation charge. Delta, Continental, American, and JetBlue all fly into Santiago. Airfare is also tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. Additional Air Travel Info in Volunteer Guide.

Fund-Raising:
If you are involved with a fund-raising organization or foundation, we do have a funding opportunity/need to purchase equipment and medicines. For example, $500 will purchase a Pharmacy in a Box valued at $7500.

Miscellaneous Notes:
Although the orphanage where you may be staying is a Christian orphanage, there is no religious focus to this trip. We do have a no alcohol, no tobacco policy.

Other Resources:

Slideshow

Volunteer Guide

Orphanage Outreach Home Page

Signing Up:
Please sign up for the trip here.

Questions:
Please either e-mail us, or call us at 602-375-2900.

"I am the advisor for SOSH (Students in Optometric Service to Humanity) out of the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Optometry. For each of the past 8 years a group consisting of myself and about 20 students has traveled outside the US during our spring break to provide eye care and eye wear to people in need. Our trip to Monte Cristi exceeded all of our expectations. With regard to accommodations and logistics, this has become the trip against which all others are and will be measured. It is truly a turn-key mission operation. Fantastic job!We will be here again."
John Essinger, OD, UAB-School of Optometry

"I was in awe of what has been accomplished and the potential opportunities available for future volunteers."
Andrea McCrink, BSN, MS, WHNP, Ed.D, Adelphi University Faculty