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TriMedx Visits Haiti

On two separate occasions this year, technicians from TriMedxTM, formerly St. Vincent Hospital's biomedical and clinical engineering department, made mission service trips to Haiti.

Sister Martha Barlai-Kovach, D.C of the CRUDEM (Center for the Rural Development of Milot) missionary hospital in Milot, Haiti, had issued an "SOS" to TriMedx after receiving three pieces of donated radiology equipment from Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. The equipment, a Siemens C-arm and two Picker portable x-ray units, was not functioning properly and there were no technicians in Haiti who could provide assessment and repairs. Ron Tocco, the Director of National Contracts for TriMedx, spoke to Sister Martha and Sister Jean Maher, who also serves at the CRUDEM hospital, and it was decided that Ron and Danny Reinle would travel to Haiti to provide technical assistance.

Upon arrival at the airport in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, the TriMedx associates were met by Sister Jean and driven to Milot, Haiti where the CRUDEM hospital is located. Upon arrival, they found an entire room full of medical equipment in need of repair. It was determined that the problems with the initial three pieces of donated equipment stemmed from damage sustained while being transported from the airport over the poor roadways. During their stay Danny and Ron, working among geckos, chickens and cats that roam the hospital, managed to repair several items and compile a list of parts needed to repair others. One day, during a surgical procedure, the generator supplying all power to the facility abruptly stopped. Danny was able to lend a hand in fixing a broken wire on it so that power was restored and the surgery completed. Both Danny and Ron were surprised to find that all electricity in Milot was shut off at 11:00 p.m. each night.

Following the initial Haitian visit in March, a second mission trip was made in July. During their nine-day stay, TriMedx associates Mike Hoyt and Todd Poor provided parts and repairs to a ventilator, lab and ultrasound equipment, an operating room light, and an anesthesia unit. Mike even used his ingenuity to repair a television set using a vacutainer stopper and a piece of plastic for parts. Joe Skotchdopole of TriMedx obtained a refurbished electrosurgical unit from Valley Labs Corporation and was able to ship that to the mission facility as well.

All of the TriMedx associates who participated in the Haiti mission felt the experience to be very rewarding. They found the Creole speaking Haitians very friendly and not overtly aware of the impoverished conditions in which they live. Many Haitian children suffer from club feet, asthma from the extreme amount of dust, and stomach ulcers, most likely caused by their diet. Sadly, the infant mortality rate is almost 20 percent. The average per capita income of a Haitian is $250 a year.

TriMedx currently has several fetal monitors and pulse oximeters that they plan to donate to the CRUDEM Missionary Hospital. Sister Martha welcomes any donations of equipment, but noted that electric hospital beds could not be utilized due to the lack of dependable power sources. Most patients are cared for in cots, but the crank-type of beds could be used. In addition, any medical professional who could donate time and services is always welcome. Dr. T.J. Dubuque, Jr., at the CRUDEM Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri, coordinates mission visits to Haiti.

TriMedx is proud to have been a part of the Haitian mission opportunity and looks forward to providing more charity services to the world's sick poor.