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March 1, 2010
VCOM Haitian Medical Relief Mission
February 1 – 7, 2010
VCOM carried out a mission trip within days following the Haiti earthquake. Ironically, a mission trip already planned for February 1 -7, 2010 had been dedicated to Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness training. After the disaster, VCOM shifted the focus from “training” to “response”.
The 38 member medical mission team made life more bearable and in some cases provided life changing treatment for victims. Many Haitians had been airlifted and transported by land to hospitals along the Haitian and Dominican border which is where VCOM concentrated services. Those participating in the trip treated patients recovering from broken bones, severe lacerations, and amputations required to address crush wounds.
To respond to a disaster in a foreign country, advanced preparation is required. Initially, medical students were not permitted to enter Haiti for the disaster response. So, VCOM focused on providing care in hospitals and medical refugee camps along the Dominican border where thousands of Haitians were transported for treatment.
The VCOM mission relief team left Punta Cana Dominican Republic at 4 AM Monday February 1st for a 10 hour chartered bus ride to Jimani, Dominican Republic. Then, the team redirected efforts to Barahona where many of the patients had been transferred. Fortunately, 
a good samaritan donated space in her home to the team for sleeping and preparing for each day. It was fortunate to locate a benevolent individual who had a large secured home that could accommodate the 38 member team at the location of our work.
On Tuesday morning, VCOM teams worked in a hospital and two refugee camps where many patients were recovering from surgery and amputations and in need of various treatments. The Hospital Chief of Surgery spent the day with VCOM personnel evaluating patients to determine surgery schedules; evaluating each patient’s need for transfer to higher level care or discharge back to Haiti. VCOM identified ten patients in need of further surgery.
Tuesday afternoon, the VCOM team worked in a hospital dedicated to amputation. The hospital staff performed amputations and other corrective surgeries for 194 patients since the earthquake; about 30 patients remained with post operative needs. There were 9 patients requiring further surgery which required transfer to higher level care facility.
On Wednesday the team traveled to a children's center, a refugee center, and hospitals to provide treatment, make rounds, and identify patients who needed more definitive treatment.
Thursday, the VCOM team was prepared to assist with patients during transfer to higher level facilities and to attend medical needs in centers previously visited. However, the initial plans were delayed because of a series of required approvals and reconciliation of different views among agencies that were involved in assuring Haitian patients care. This required much patience and flexibility by the VCOM team
to alter plans for the day. Ultimately, approvals were acquired for transporting patients using the VCOM bus as the group traveled to the capitol, Santo Domingo, around 10 PM. The team returned to Punta Cana Friday morning.
On Friday, the team toured Veron where VCOM has a clinic that operates in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Punta Cana Foundation. Trip participants toured the clinic and observed clinic activities where on a typical day 60 – 90 patients are treated. This clinic serves a community of approximately 30,000, and the patients served are approximately 60% Haitian. Many have extended family in Haiti who are affected by the earthquake or have relocated there.
This disaster relief trip served victims suffering trauma and anxiety from a severe earthquake and assisted medical refugees in a foreign country. Students gained experience in acquiring approvals to provide medical relief in a foreign country and in responding coordinating efforts with the Haitian consulate to track the medical care and location of their citizens. Also, much was learned from cross cultural experience and participating in medical professional and patient interactions using English, Spanish and Creole. Student debriefing activities provided an extended time to reflect on accomplishments and to gain insights for future disaster response.
Those contributing to the VCOM mission trip are important partners in all that was accomplished. The Dominican Government and related agencies, hospitals and care centers were very cooperative in providing approvals and entry into centers where VCOM provided care for Haitians. These approvals were invaluable in working through entry with officials at hospitals and make-shift treatment sites. Partnerships established with these agencies led to offers to work together for long term assistance in the region. In addition, the Punta Cana Foundation was instrumental in arranging mission transportation, carrying out internal relations in-country, and providing financial assistance, housing and a security agent.
We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for the support of VCOM family and friends who contributed to the mission trip in numerous ways. The funds raised during our fund drive are devoted to the mission trip and follow up care of Haitian victims and their families. The fund drive continues as we look to provide long-term assistance.
Dixie Tooke- Rawlins, DO, Dean and Executive Vice President
H. Dean Sutphin, PhD Asst VP for International and Appalachian Outreach