US Navy “Comfort “ Ship Mission Services and Procedures

 

US NAVY “COMFORT “ SHIP MISSION

SERVICES AND PROCEDURES

July 28 to August 5, 2015

 

By : Ministry of Health & Environment

 

The US Navy Comfort Ship, the largest floating hospital in the US will be in Dominica from July 27 to August 7, 2015, for a Health Mission. This is being coordinated by the Ministry of Justice, Immigration and National Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs and Ministry of Health and Environment.  Ministry of Health and Environment is spearheading this mission.

 

The services offered will include the following:

·        Pediatric— which is children’s’’ care

·        Dental care

·        Surgery

·        Optometry – vision screening

·        Internal Medicine—this is general medicine dealing with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases

·        Dermatology-  the skin care

·        Urology-  bladder and prostate issues

·        Cardiology – heart care

·        Ophthalmology-  eye care

·        Women’s Health Specialist

·        Physical therapy— to help persons recover or improve disability

·        Plastic Surgery

·        Oral/Maxilo facial Surgery—this is treatment of diseases and injuries of the head, neck, face, jaws and the mouth.

·        Orthopedics – bone abnormalities

·        Emergency Medicine

·        Anesthesia

·        Pediatric Surgery

·        Family Nurse Practitioner and

·        Diagnostic Imaging eg CT Scan

 

The mission will be operating from two medical sites. Identical services will be provided at both sites., except for cardiology services , that is conditions of the heart 

The first medical site is at the Dominica Grammar School to serve the health districts from Roseau that is from Scotts Head in the south down to Roseau to include the Roseau Valley, Fond Cole , Massacre, Mahaut, Tareau,  Campbell  and Warner communities.

The Grand Bay Health district to include all of the villages from Pichelin to Petite Savanne.

The La Plaine Health District to include all the villages from Grand Fond to Delice and the Castle Bruce Health District to include the villages of Castle Bruce, Good Hope, Petite Soufriere , San Sauveur , Salybia and Mahaut River and Belles and Warner

 

The second medical site will be at the Roosevelt Douglas Primary School. This site will serve the Health Districts of Portsmouth to include villages of Penville, Vielle Case, Thibauud, Paix Bouche Dos Dane Bouche Dublanc  and Anse De Mai , Clifton , cottage  ,Savanne Paille, Toucarie ,

St. Joseph Health District to include Layou to Colihaut  and the Health District of Marigot to include Wesley, Calibishie and Atkinson.

We encourage persons requiring specialist services from private physicians, inmates of the Dominica State Prisons, The Infirmary Home for the Aged, Grotto Home for the Homeless and other privately owned elderly homes to participate in the mission.

Six hundred patients will be seen per day at each site.

Please note that all the services mentioned will be provided at both medical sites. You are encouraged to visit the assigned sites for service.

For Surgical procedures, CT Scans

Surgical procedures and other procedures used to make diagnosis such as CT Scans will be done aboard the US Navy Ship, while all dental and medical consultations will be performed at the two medical sites. Clients for surgeries who have been pre-screened will also be screened by the US Navy personnel, who will make the final decision for procedures on the ship.

For Medical Procedures

All clients accessing care at the two medical sites will be seen and screened by the US Navy Ship personnel.

·      The ship will have only  nine operational days, of which services will start no later than 9:00  am on each day and end no later than 5:00 pm from Tuesday July 28th to Wednesday August 5th 2015.

 

·        One service will be performed per screening session however, other services can be received if time permits .

·   All patients accessing care from the medical sites are required to provide the staff with a valid identification and medical book. In the event that you do not have a medical book, please bring along an exercise book for your records.

Elderly patients, children, the mentally and physically challenged, should be accompanied by their next of kin or someone who is fully aware of your condition. Additionally, creole speaking persons are also advised to have a familiar translator on the date of screening by US Navy ship personnel.

 

·    You are responsible to provide your own transportation to and from your homes or districts to the medical sites.

 

·        Patients are advised to get to the screening sites on time on the given dates of the mission.

·        Food will not be provided for patients or their next of kin during the screening period.

 

It is very unfortunate; however due to unforeseen circumstances, no MRI’s will be done during the US Navy Comfort Mission. Persons who were prescreened for MRI’s and may require CT Scans are now advised to alert their physicians who initially did the prescreening, so that appropriate changes can be made.

 

Accessing Services aboard Ship

Pre. Screening by USNS team

As it relates to surgical candidates please be informed of the following:

All surgical patients who have been prescreened by PMH Consultants or District Medical Doctors are advised of the following:

·       Pre-screening will be only on Monday July 27th 2015 at 9:00am for all surgical candidates only at the Dominica Grammar School

·        Please take along your medical books, identification cards and minimal personal items to the site on that day.

·     Some patients will be admitted to the ship directly after the screening – in preparation for surgery the very next day

·     Patients must be accompanied by an able escort, meaning someone who is fully aware of your condition, someone who can provide particularly physical support to you before and immediately after surgery and who can remain with you until you are discharged after surgery. An escort cannot be a patient. For patients who speak primarily creole, it is advised that you choose an escort who is able to be a translator for you.

·        Escorts are also advised to bring along minimal personal items aboard the ship

Surgery on the ship

Persons will be reminded of the following:

·     The ship will have only nine  operational days, of which services will start no later than 9:00  am on each day and end no later than 4: 00 pm from Tuesday July 28th to Wednesday August 5th 2015.

 

·     Elderly patients, children, the mentally and physically challenged should be accompanied by their next of kin or someone who is fully aware of your condition.  Additionally, creole speaking persons are also advised to have a familiar translator on the date of screening by US Navy ship personnel .

 

·       Patient’s transportation to and from their homes/districts are their responsibility as well as getting to and from the port on the given dates for surgical interventions.

 

·        Food will be provided for surgical patients and their NOK’s aboard the ship.

 All patients accessing care on the ship are required to provide the staff with a valid identification and medical book and should carry only minimal necessary personal items.

·    Candidates for surgery will be called via telephone with instructions as it relates to their surgical schedule. They will be given a specific date and time for the intervention aboard the ship. Patients are advised to follow all pre-operative instructions.

Candidates for diagnostic services eg CT Scans and , will also be called via telephone with instructions as it relates to their procedure. They will be given a specific date and time for the intervention aboard the ship. Patients are advised to follow all preparatory instructions.

 

Recovery and Follow-Up of patients

All post-operative recovery will be done aboard the ship during the nine operational days of the mission. Patients requiring continued care i.e needing an extended period of recovery (eg in the event of complications) will be transported via the ambulance from the vessel, directly to the Princess Margaret Hospital for continued care.

Patients with non-critical conditions will be discharged directly to their homes.

Patients will be given clear instructions as to the date, time and place of follow-up care (eg Out Patient Department at Princess Margaret Hospital, Private Physician’s Office and District Medical Clinics) prior to being discharged from the services during the mission.

 

Please note that ALL services are free of cost.

Please note that you will be expected to wait patiently in line to be seen among many. It will not necessarily be on the basis of first come first serve, since priority will be given to elderly, children and vulnerable groups.

However, a numbering system will be used for all persons accessing care. Our local medical team will make every effort to expedite the process so that your waiting time will be limited to the minimum. You are also reminded to walk with your snack and water, and ensure that you have taken your regular medication as prescribed.

 

The Ministry of Health and Environment solicits your cooperation for the successful execution of this mission.