Frustrated in Haiti by Alfred Sacchetti, MD
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 
Alfred Sacchetti, MDFrom every communication I have received from Haiti, it is bad, very very bad. The amount of human misery borders on indescribable. What seems to be even more disturbing is the inability of even the most well intentioned medical providers to help.
I work in a hospital that is part of the Catholic Health East (CHE) Hospital System. CHE routinely participates in Global Outreach Programs that provide medical missions to various third world areas, including Haiti. Many of the ED staff volunteer for these missions and some have even worked at the Haiti clinic.
When the earthquake occurred the ED staff readily signed up to be part of relief teams to go to Haiti. Those that could not go themselves, agreed to cover the vacated spots of the docs, techs and nurses who would be going.
None of us have gone anywhere.
We are still waiting for CHE in conjunction with some of the major relief organizations to secure an area for us to set up shop.
In communicating with other emergency docs, nurses, trauma surgeons and the like I am hearing the same story over and over. We are ready but there is just no infrastructure in place to allow us to do anything. Every ED on the east coast has staff primed to help, but can’t get out the door. Teams that flew in early are still stuck in the Dominican Republic, others that made it to Haiti found no resources to provide even the most rudimentary of care. Some teams have been successful in delivering care and should be commended on their ability to manage the myriad of logistical problems that have short circuited other medical relief efforts.
One of our anesthesiologist with disaster experience actually worked with a team in Haiti to bring a field hospital with them. He left last week, but we have not heard from him.
In the mean time we sit in a fully equipped ED with enough supplies and medical personnel to care for half of "Port-au-Prince. We are not suffering, in fact we are very comfortable, well fed and healthy. But still we are frustrated by not being able to help those who are suffering.
We are very very frustrated.
Reader Comments (1)
Scripps Healthcare in San Diego was able to send a small team over the first week, initially to assess where help might be provided, then later sent another small team of surgeons to provide direct patient care. You might try contacting the office of Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO of Scripps Health, for advice on coordinating a team.(858) 678-6840.