BOSTON, March 19 As the true scale of the crisis in Haiti caused by the worst earthquake in 200 years has come into focus, the needs for specific expertise and resources have begun to be identified. Early estimates are there could be as many as 12,000 amputee patients with even more needing some form of rehabilitation care. The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network (SRN), one of the leading rehabilitation providers in the country has begun assisting to address this critical need.
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Beginning in early March three SRN therapists Diana Parker, OT and Sharon Purcell, PT of Spaulding Hospital Cambridge and Betty Carr, PT of Shaughnessy- Kaplan in Salem began a two week stint in Haiti, treating patients at General Hospital HUEH in Port-au-Prince. Spaulding therapists will be going to Haiti on an ongoing basis for two week placements working through Partners in Health. Spaulding therapists and physicians are also acting in advisory roles remotely and on the ground to begin to establish the long term plan to address the almost overwhelming need for rehabilitative medicine.
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"The first few days were challenging and frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. We found ourselves doing much more than therapy: wound care, patient advocacy, finding supplies, patient/family education and comfort. And we are seeing that as patients come to trust that we are a consistent medical presence on a daily basis, they are responding to us with energy and gratitude - they have welcomed us into their micro-communities! We get a smile and a wave whenever we walk in, and see that by focusing on the individual level, we have come to find that we can make a difference," Diana, Sharon and Betty shared in correspondences.
"The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network is so proud of our dedicated caregivers who have jumped at the chance to help people facing this crisis. Their expertise, spirit and commitment is a reflection of the character of all our staff who are always ready when there is a need. We are all energized by their example and our honored to offer our clinical expertise and our experience working with communities addressing the needs of people with disabilities," said VP of Community Relations and Human Resources, Oz Mondejar.
The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network has established a fund to assist Spaulding staff with families in Haiti, learn more at www.spauldingrehab.org/haiti.
About the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
A member of Partners HealthCare, The Spaulding Network includes Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital its main campus, a 196-bed facility, located in Boston, MA, Shaugnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital, Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands in Sandwich, MA and three skilled nursing facilities: North End Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Boston Center for Rehabilitation and Sub-Acute Care, and the Clark House, as well as sixteen outpatient sites throughout the Greater Boston area. Spaulding is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School as well as the official rehabilitation hospital of the New England Patriots. Spaulding is the only rehabilitation hospital in New England continually ranked since 1995 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Hospitals survey. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
SOURCE Spaulding Rehabilitation Network
