Haiti Update, February 5, 2010

To:       OTA Members & Haitian Medical Care Effort Volunteers

From:   Dave Templeman, OTA President

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all who have volunteered to help with emergency medical care in Haiti. For those still wishing to volunteer, you may do so using the link below: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/26RMRNF

Following is an update on the OTA Haiti volunteer initiatives and efforts.  

USNS COMFORT
The OTA sent a first volunteer team of 10 to serve on the USNS COMFORT Feb. 2nd. We hope to continue to schedule OTA medical care teams on a continuous and as-needed basis, and expect a second team will be needed in mid-February (we have not yet been able to confirm exact dates or details for a 2nd OTA team).

Operation Smile
Operation Smile has been in communication with the OTA. They may need additional orthopaedic surgeon volunteers beginning in March (they have covered orthopaedic surgeon volunteer needs for the month of February), and have indicated they will provide dates and needs as soon as they are are confirmed. A list of all OTA members who have volunteered through the OTA has been sent to Operation Smile. Operation Smile Update - received Feb. 4, 2010.


Haitian Medical Care in the US
Reminder…
Andy Pollak is currently working through a contact at the DOD in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) who knows how to work through the immigration logistics, and is in need of hospitals willing to accept non-funded Haitian patients in need of medical care. If your institution can accept non-funded patients, please complete the following survey. Further details regarding this initiative will be posted on the OTA website.    Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/92RLTNK

Collaboration with AAOS Haitian volunteer efforts
The AAOS is providing weekly updated lists of orthopaedic surgeon volunteers to approximately 15 NGOs coordinating Haitian medical care efforts. The OTA volunteer list is included in this distribution (the list does specify which surgeons have trauma expertise, and are OTA members).

The AAOS International Department received a message that there is an urgent need for orthopaedic trauma surgeon volunteers in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic at the Dario Contreras Trauma Hospital in Santo Domingo. Please click here for details.


Please share your Haitian Volunteer Experience
For those of you have already traveled to Haiti, please share your experience with the OTA membership via the OTA Haiti blog : Link coming soon… watch for details.