Tufts Medical Center Supports Haiti
Resources and Information for Providing Assistance to Haiti
The earthquake in Haiti this past week has all but devastated the already impoverished country and its people. Tufts Medical Center realizes the need to support those suffering and surviving in Haiti as well as the members of our Medical Center community who have family and friends in Haiti facing the aftermath of this disaster. We urge you to reach out in any way you can, and please be supportive of our colleagues who have family and friends who are suffering as a result of this disaster.
Internal Resources
Our first priority, of course, is for those in the Tufts' family who have been touched personally by this tragedy.
The Employee Assistance Program (KGA) is ready and available to assist with counseling and support 24/7. They can be reached at 800-648-9557, and materials are available on their website as well, www.kgreer.com.
For those seeking information about family members in Haiti, you can contact either of the following organizations:
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U.S. State Department Operations Center at 888-407-4747. Due to heavy call volume, some callers may receive a recording as the embassy in Haiti is still in the early stages of contacting American citizens and communications are still very difficult within Haiti at this time.
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The Haitian Multi-Service Center, located at 185 Columbia Road in Dorchester, Mass., is also a source. The contact number is 617-436-2848.
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The American Red Cross International Family Tracing Services accepts tracing cases for family members separated by disaster.
How you can support financially
While there are numerous humanitarian organizations providing aid and assistance to Haiti, we have identified the following organizations that are engaged in a verifiable response effort, are certified charitable organizations and have established campaigns (listed alphabetically):
American Red Cross, International Response Fund, 1-800-REDCROSS, or online at www.redcross.org – on the ground, providing first aid, rescue assistance, assessment support, food, water and shelter
Oxfam International, Haiti Earthquake Response Fund, www.oxfam.org – on the ground, rescue assistance, assessment support and provision of public health, water, and sanitation services
Partners in Health, Stand With Haiti Campaign, www.pih.org – physicians currently in the field providing direct medical assistance
World Vision, Haiti Quake Relief Fund, www.worldvision.org - on the ground, providing food, water and shelter
To get involved in the response effort directly
Partners in Health
Tufts Medical Center is not organizing our own trip to Haiti, but medical professionals wishing to volunteer in the field can contact Partners in Health at www.pih.org, or via email at healthvolunteer@pih.org. Partners in Health is currently seeking physicians with significant surgical and trauma training.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks to partner with AAMC to identify specialty physicians who are willing to volunteer to deploy with HHS National Disaster Medical Assistance teams in Haiti.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is looking for trauma surgeons, orthopedists and anesthesiologists or others with experience and capability treating crush injuries. Volunteers should be willing to work for at least a 2-week period, and to live and work in austere conditions.
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Preference is for Creole or French speakers, and those currently credentialed through the Medical Reserve Corps in their states, or the ESAR-VHP (Emergency Services Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Personnel) program.
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Because volunteers need to be credentialed as temporary federal employees, volunteers will need to be able to provide credentialing paperwork as soon as asked. Credentialing normally takes about a week. Interested physicians should speak with their chair/supervisor. The HHS contact for those interested is Michala Koch, Michala.Koch@hhs.gov. HHS may not be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to help, and may not be able to get back directly to those without the requisite skills.
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