COURSE DESCRIPTION
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The clinical experience in Haiti is organized by Justin Dunaway, a graduate
of the DPT program, who is a founding member of Phoenix Rising for Haiti
(PRH). PRH is a non-profit organization with the purpose to provide a
multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of the injured and disabled
people of Haiti.
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This clinical offers a hands on/direct patient care experience in an rural,
economically disadvantaged area of Haiti that has many healthcare system
related challenges. The patient care provided by the student is supervised
at all times by either the YSU graduate, Justin, or his designated physical
therapist. Any therapists designated to supervise the student will have had
prior experience in Haiti.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
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The clinical experience offers the YSU student the opportunity to:
• Provide care for a diverse array of patient problems including amputation,
congenital deformity, wounds, and neurologic and musculoskeletal related
limitations and dysfunction.
• Providing physical therapy care to a person from Haiti offers the student a
culturally different experience than that available in our other YSU affiliated
clinics.
• Experience the challenges and benefits of working through an interpreter to
develop a successful method to communicate with the Haitians in their country
COURSE DESCRIPTION
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During this clinical, the YSU student will work alongside PTs from other
geographic areas of the USA as well as throughout the world. The
experience also allows the YSU student to collaborate on patient care with
other providers such as the prosthetist, orthotist, occupational therapist,
wound care specialist and orthopedic technician.
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The student who attended the last clinical experience in Haiti was able to
work with PTs from Canada and Australia as well as coordinate the making of
splints and mobility/positioning devices with the OT and orthotist. She also
worked with a carpenter to literally design and make a mobility device for a
child who otherwise was immobile. Lastly, the YSU student will learn the true
meaning of collaborative pt care because team ‘meetings’ to problem solve
solutions to patient problems occur constantly in this setting.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Develop a culturally competent POC for a person with a familiar
musculoskeletal, integumentary, neuromuscular, and/or cardiopulmonary
problems.
2. Communicate effectively via a translator during a physical therapy evaluation
and treatment session.
3. Modify patient education to include unique local considerations of Haitian
patients.
a. For example, Haitian people with diabetes often are unaware of the
need to wear shoes besides ‘flip/flops’ when walking including when
walking inside on the dirt/rocky floors of their homes.
4. Collaborate with other team members to develop a POC for a complex patient
condition.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
5. Compare differences and similarities of treatment techniques among PTs from
different geographical areas of the USA and possibly the world.
6. Become proficient with a prior unfamiliar technique taught by a PT from another
geographic area or develop a POC for an unfamiliar diagnosis common in Haiti.
7. Develop a list of local barriers and supports to modify disability impact in Haiti.
8. Formulate a solution to a system/clinic level problem that occurred during the
experience.
9. Prioritize curriculum needs for the YSU PT Program in regards to teaching cultural
competence.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
• Finish the second year of DPT curriculum
• Approval by staff
• Self fundraise
• Present on experience upon return and write for YSU
PT newsletter as well as other potential requirements
FINAL DESTINATION
ARRIVAL
PRH
Facility/Housing in
Port-du-Paix
ACCOMMODATIONS
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Housing Conditions
• Provides clean water for drinking and showering
• Meals provided by cook with clean water
• Bathroom/shower- 2 upstairs, 1 downstairs
• Community living
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Sleeping Options
• Inside with windows
• Outside with tent
• Suggested to sleep with mosquito net
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Security
• Property surrounded by fence with security guard
TYPICAL “SCHEDULE” FOR TRIP
Friday•
Travel
Saturday-
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Land in Port au-Prince Saturday morning and either fly (40 mins) or drive (6-8 hrs) to
Port-du- Paix depending on travel availability
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Set up clinic and team meeting to discuss the details of the week to come
Sunday- “Down Day”
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Boat to Tortuga and spend the day on the beach, we have also done days in the market
in local towns, sight seeing, hiking, etc- depends on what we can make happen
Monday through Friday•
Eat breakfast- treat till lunch- treat till we are out of patients
Saturday•
If flights are available, fly back to Port au-Prince and then home by Saturday night
TYPICAL DAY IN THE CLINIC
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A student will shadow Justin the first day-day and a half.
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You will then shift to treating and then treating independently by Wednesday
(potentially earlier or later).
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You will also be required to shadow other PTs because there are a lot of people
with multiple different skill sets to get many perspectives.
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Students will also follow one amputee from casting, through fabrication, to fitting,
to gait training to see the whole process.
The line of patients waiting
outside the PRH facility
Typical
treatment
areas
AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT
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Treatment tables
Acupunture needles
Electro-acupuncture machine
Cupping/vaccuum therapy
TASTM tools
Thera-bands
First aide/wound care supplies
Orthotic supplies/bracing
Prosthetic workshop with power
tools/hand tools
Antibiotics (pills/topicals)
Saline/ IV kits
Always in need of:
• Thera-bands
Little use for:
• TENS
• Goniometers
• Gait belts
Always one day to KICK
BACK and RELAX!!!
PLANNING
• All trip planning, booking, accommodations and
payment are made via Phoenix Rising for Haiti.
• www.phoenixrisingforhaiti.org
PREPARATION FOR TRIP
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Consult your physician well in advance for medical needs and when to begin
immunizations.
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Immunizations
• Up to date Tetanus, flu, MMR, and Varicella shots (Takes 4-6 weeks)
• Also recommended Typhoid (at least 2 weeks in advance) and Hepatitis A and
B (series of 3 shots, needs to be started ~7 months in advance)
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Medications
• Malaria- ‘Chloroquine’ or other anti malaria medication
• Cipro- optional antibiotic
• Anti-nausea/ motion sickness- Phenergan
• Anti-diarrheal medication
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/haiti
PREPARATION FOR TRIP
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Consult your physician well in advance for medical needs and when to begin
immunitizations.
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Physical Condition and Medications
• Obtain a thorough physical exam
• Medical identification tags, bracelets, cards etc. should be carried
• If taking any prescription drugs bring enough for the entire trip
• Bring extra medication to be safe
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/haiti
PAPERWORK FOR TRIP
• Copies of:
• Medical Insurance (2)
• Passport (2)
• All prescriptions (2)
CARRY ON ITEMS
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Water bottle
Alarm clock (battery operated)
Medical kit/Toiletries--any
prescription meds you are
taking
Flash light
Sunscreen
Extra-strength bug repellant
(DEET)
Snack food
Phoenix Rising T shirt (wear it)
Underwear and socks for 4
days
Shower shoes (flip flops)
Towel and washcloth
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Toilet paper
Moist Towelettes
Passport
Money- USD
Ladies-female items
Watch
Pillow and sheets
LUGGAGE
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Snack food
Extra pair of comfortable
shoes and sandals
Hiking boots
Light jacket for evening
Light weight blanket or
sleeping bag
Mosquito net
Underwear and socks
Work gloves
Towel and washcloth
Backpack
Tent
Beach towel
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Extra wet ones
Photocopy of passport
Hat (ladies-something to pull
hair up)
Hat (ladies-something to pull
hair up)
Plastic bag for laundry
Roll of duct tape and
permanent marker
Shower curtain liner
Swim suit(ladies- one piece)
Package of paper plates
Toilet paper
Roll of paper towels or napkins
Clothes line and pocket knife
Littler hand sanitizer
COSTS AND FUNDRAISING
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Costs:
• Average trip cost= $1,400 to $1,800
• Most be fully paid 1 MONTH before departure
• $500 nonrefundable deposit due 3 MONTHS before the trip
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Fundraising Ideas:
• Spaghetti dinners or pancake breakfast
• 50/50
• Raffle baskets
• Max and Erma’s or Chili’s Dinner
• Connect with your place of worship
• Write letters to friends, families, and colleagues
• Contact Local businesses
• Coupon Books
• All donations payable to Phoenix Rising for Haiti are tax deductible. Be sure to
send thank-you notes to your supporters.
YSU SUPPORT
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Any funding through YSU requires travel forms
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PT Department
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Department Deans
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Provost
**Keep ALL COPIES TER completed after travel
• Will need to be able to pay up front and will be reimbursed upon returning
THINGS TO REMEMBER
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Water will be provided by the clinic, however do not drink or brush your teeth with
any water in Haiti
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Only eat foods prepared by PRH. When eating in public places, avoid eating
salads or fresh fruit
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Wear comfortable modest clothing (scrubs is a good idea). Bring a swimsuit and
sturdy closed toed shoes
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Bring less than $100 for souvenirs or emergencies (do not bring large bills; $5
bills or less)
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Bringing a laptop will not be necessary
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
Most common Illnesses:
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Vomiting and diarrhea
The conditions are treated by starting a saline IV at the clinic , which many volunteers
can do
If additional care is needed- a hospital is located down the street and the clinic has
relationships with 2 surgeons
Trauma:
Partnered with an ortho-surgeon down the street and have a relationship with a
medical director of a hospital 10 minutes from the clinic
**Everything at the hospital is paid for in CASH (there is a bank in town if additional
cash is needed)
CONTACT
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www.phoenixrisingforhaiti.org
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Phoenix Rising for Haiti on Facebook
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Justin Dunaway
• Jdunaway@phoenixrisingforhaiti.org