Team #4 has been on the ground in Haiti now for just over 24 hours. We had a warm welcome from the Miami team here on the ground. They have helped us make a relatively smooth transition.
We have answered a census at the Double Harvest Clinic of close to 50 patients. We have gotten started with a few surgeries, limited bed availability and “closure of a PACU”( post anesthesia care unit). After a long day of getting to know our patients and teammates, Sunday has been a somewhat more productive day. We have been able to discharge many of our wonderful patients in the care of their family. We were also able to ship several of our severely injured patients to the U.S.S. Comfort for further definitive orthopaedic care.
We have now received the mini C-arm that was graciously donated to the Double Harvest Mission. We are hopeful that this will aid us in our continued effort to try and provide additional treatment. The fractures to this point have been unable to be managed surgically. We continue to struggle with the challenges of wound care, cleanliness and dealing with persistent infection.
We have a wonderful team here that adapts to each of the bumps in a very professional manner. Today certainly has been a very hectic day with emergency general surgery cases. Today our team has delivered the second baby since we have arrived in just over 24 hours. We are thankful for Dr. Bukrey’s daughter, Suzanne who was able to provide her expertise with her OB/GYN training. Dr. Bryan Pack a chief resident from Grand Rapids has been truly invaluable and instrumental in organizational skills here at the Double Harvest. We have now expanded our inpatient rounding list that was adapted by Team #3. We also now have established a discharge list as well as transfer order form for moving the patients between our units.
We continue to network with our local physicians Dr. Jonas as well as the University of Miami Teams at the airport.
Finally we had a visit from the U.S. 82nd Airborne and we are grateful for their service and their visit today and the supplies they were able to provide to us here.
To all our family and friends: we are all well. We are healthy and we will continue to keep you all in our thoughts as we continue to help each individual in a country that truly is grateful for every effort we can provide for them.
On behalf of Team #4, respectfully,
Terrence J. Endres, M.D.
