IGLESIA EPISCOPAL DOMINICANA

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Mission Teams

Team Tips

Airport Shuffle

Work Teams

Bible School  Mission Discovery

Click on photographs to englarge

Coordinator of Mission Teams

Ellen Snow

Diocesan Office

(809) 686-7493

Cel: (809) 323-9379

E-Mail

Each year 5,000 people are served by 8 - 10 medical teams that are hosted by the diocese.  Field clinics are held in Episcopal churches, schools, and in some cases public buildings.  Though the clinics are run by the Episcopal Church, our priests work with other Christian pastors and public officials to insure that the most needy are served.

For the most part, services are limited to family practice medicine or specialty services which can be performed in what are sometimes primitive conditions.  Specialty services such as dentistry, pediatrics, cardiology, ophthalmology, etc. are sought after services by the poor.  Each medical team must have a pharmacy component.  The diocese is not equipped to handle surgery teams.  However, we can provide you with contacts with groups in the DR that do work with surgery teams.

Specialty medical teams can work at Clinic Esperanza and Clinic Buen Pastor in San Pedro.   Most field dental teams can only pull teeth.  But dental teams at the clinic can do cleanings, as well as minor restorative work.  Audiology, ophthalmology, and pediatrics are also services sought by these two clinics. 

Preparing a medical team to come to the DR or any third-world country is a much more difficult task than preparing a work or summer bible school team.  It is also a much more difficult task for the DR Team Coordinator, because of the government regulations which are involved. 

A team should begin making preparations for the trip at least six months in advance of the departure date.  The team members should be recruited and chosen at least three months in advance of the trip.

If a team has not worked in the DR before, the diocese requires that the team leader(s) make an advance trip to the DR to observe an experienced DR medical team.  During this time, diocesan staff will meet the with leader(s) to explain government and diocesan requirements. If possible, the leader will have an opportunity to visit their assigned work site.  This will allow the team leader(s) to plan logistics for the field clinic. 

Medical Team Tips & Information

TEAM MAKE-UP: Every team must have at least one licensed medical doctor and pharmacist.  Nurses, nurse practitioners, or emergency medical technicians are the foundation of every team. In addition, non-medical people are important.  These team members help in the pharmacy, run errands, assist with crowd control, play with children while they are waiting, and are part of the prayer team.

SERVICE FEES: The diocese has learned that those who receive services for free, place little value on the services they have been provided.  Therefore, the diocese has a policy that those coming to the clinic must pay a small fee with the exception of those who volunteer their time.  The fee is establish by the church community and is between 20 to 35 cents a person.  The local priest, however, can decide to lower this fee or provide services at no cost to an individual.  The funds are used to off-set costs in preparing for the team, to support church programs, and are often used to buy medicines for those in need, long after the team has left the country.  Medical teams who are not willing to accept this policy should investigate opportunities in other dioceses.

BRINGING MEDICINES INTO THE DR: The government has strict policies on medicines brought into the country.  Because of this, a list of medicines must be submitted to the Diocesan Coordinator at least one month in advance of the arrival date.  The diocese needs to obtain the approval of the Health Department and the customs officials, prior to the teams arrival.  This is a lengthy process and without the their approval, the medicines may not be allowed into the country.

THE LIST: Your typewritten medicine list must have the medicine's generic name, the dosage, the quantity and the expiration date or dates.  The expiration date must be a minimum of one-year away from the date of entrance into the DR.  Medicines with dates less than year, even though they have not expired, will not be allowed into the DR.  The coordinator will provide a form which complies with government regulations.

FOLLOW THE RULES:  In the past individuals have tried to sneak drugs into the DR.  This could action could seriously damage the reputation of this diocese. As a Christian organization we are required to play by the rules.  If the diocese discovers that someone has brought medicines into the country illegally, this individual and perhaps the team will not be allowed to participate in future clinics in the DR.

LICENSE # PLEASE: The Coordinator must receive the names and license numbers of the medical professionals serving on the team.  This information must also be sent one month in advance of the team's arrival.  The health department needs to approve these individuals.  Medical professionals should bring a copy of their license with them.

BUY DOMINICAN: Many of the medicines you will need can be purchased by the Diocesan Coordinator.  The Diocese purchases them from a Roman Catholic organization whose prices are reasonable.  The Coordinator can provide you with a list of recommended medicines and which medicines can be purchased at a more reasonable price here.   

HOW MANY & HOW MUCH:   The quantity of medicine needed will depend upon how many people you can serve.  There are many factors which will influence this number.  The number of medical professionals on your team is one of the more important factors.  The Coordinator can help determine the number of consultations your team can handle in one day.  Once this number is established, the amount of each type of medicine can be estimated.  Most of those coming to clinic, expect to receive a packet of medicines, along with some extras like soap, mouth wash, toothpaste, etc.

THE WORK DAY: The local church will issue tickets based on the estimated number of people you can serve in the morning and in the afternoon.  Clinics start at 8:30 or 9 a.m. with the last person being admitted to the waiting area at normally 3:30 p.m.  Teams go to lunch at 12:30 and return in an hour or less.  The team usually arrives at their housing area by 6:00 p.m.

THE EYES:  Eye doctors will need to bring equipment to test eyes.  While the poor can have their eyes tested at little or no cost, they don't have the funds to buy glasses.  Therefore, we require that eye teams bring glasses that are calibrated or sufficient funds to purchase glasses.

DENTISTS: The  Diocese does have two portable dentist chairs.  Dentists will need to bring all the other equipment, implements, and sterilization solutions.

PRAYER:  The diocese requests that each clinic day start with a community prayer and short bible reflection which is lead by team members or members of the local church community.  After all, healing of the body, often requires healing of the spirit.  A prayer team made up a team member(s) and a Dominican(s) will offer to pray for patients as they complete their clinic visit.  Therefore, each team should appoint a team member(s) to coordinate spiritual activities with their Dominican counterpart.  

"You Are My Witnesses"

St. Luke 28: 48

Telephone #: (809) 686-7493; (809) 688-6016  FAX: (809) 686-6364