An academic center's delivery of care after the Haitian earthquake.
The Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami and Project Medishare, an affiliated not-for-profit organization, provided a large-scale relief effort in Haiti after the earthquake of 12 January 2010. Their experience demonstrates that academic medical centers in proximity to natural disasters can help deliver effective medical care through a coordinated process involving mobilization of their own resources, establishment of focused management teams at home and on the ground with formal organizational oversight, and partnership with governmental and nongovernmental relief agencies. Proximity to the disaster area allows for prompt arrival of medical personnel and equipment. The recruitment and organized deployment of large numbers of local and national volunteers are indispensable parts of this effort. Multidisciplinary teams on short rotations can form the core of the medical response.
Jaffer
Amir K
AK
Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Campo
Rafael E
RE
Gaski
Greg
G
Reyes
Mario
M
Gebhard
Ralf
R
Ginzburg
Enrique
E
Kolber
Michael A
MA
Macdonald
John
J
Falcone
Steven
S
Green
Barth A
BA
Barreras-Pagan
Lazara
L
O'Neill
William W
WW
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005431:Florida; D005544:Forecasting; D006205:Haiti; D006775:Hospitals, Packaged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration; D014838:Volunteers / Q000458:organization & administration