Citation

Jaffer AK, Campo RE, Gaski G, Reyes M, Gebhard R, Ginzburg E, Kolber MA, MacDonald J, Falcone S, Green BA, Barreras-Pagan L, O'Neill WW. Ann. Intern Med. 2010; 153(4): 262-265.

Affiliation

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami Children's Hospital, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, American College of Physicians)

DOI

10.1059/0003-4819-153-4-201008170-00266

PMID

20643974

Abstract

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 close geographic 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. Geographic 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.

Language: en