Haitians Seek to Help their Homeland Recover One year after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti, two young Haitian men have embarked on a training program in Texas that will prepare them to return to the impoverished nation and service medical equipment that may save the lives of many of their countrymen. Phanel Guerrier, 32, is an untrained biomedical assistant at a hospital in a small village called Cange, where he performs some repairs on medical equipment. He works long hours using very basic skills, rudimentary tools, and no equipment manuals to try to keep equipment running. Luxon Philogene, 28, is an electrical engineering student who hopes to create a community of biomedical technicians in Haiti. On Jan. 10, Guerrier and Philogene arrived in Texas from Haiti to begin their formal biomedical training via a partnership between Dallas-based MediSend International (www.medisend.org) and AAMI. Throughout the year, AAMI will provide updates on its adopted trainees experiences, as they learn in Texas and after they return to Haiti to work. A Grave Need Many people in Haiti are dead because people who repaired the equipment did it incorrectly and it became faulty, says Guerrier. Many are dead because there is no one to care for the equipment. Guerrier looks forward to using the skills he learns through the training program to serve my country, and wants to work in a hospital environment as a real professional in the biomedical field. Says Guerrier, Many times, when biomedical equipment is broken, the hospital tries to get repair people from the United States, Canada, or the Dominican Republic. But often, by the time someone can get there if they ever do the patient dies waiting for the necessary surgery. I have seen this first-hand when an anesthesia machine had broken down. Meanwhile, Philogene believes that his U.S. training will bring credibility to his effort to establish a biomedical community in Haiti. He aspires to aid his country s redeveloping healthcare system, and he has a dream to become a professor, a teacher, or trainer of biomedical equipment technicians to remedy the terrible lack of biomedical training in Haiti. Haiti is such a poor country, says Philogene. There is only one doctor for every 2,000 people, and there are basically no professional technicians to repair the necessary equipment. After going through a rigorous six- Phanel Guerrier Luxon Philogene 12/February 2011 www.aami.org AAMI News
month training program at MediSend headquarters, Philogene will return to Haiti to work at Grace Children s Hospital in Port-au-Prince, while Guerrier will return to his hospital in Cange, called Zamni Lasante a Partners in Health Hospital. Initial Shock Until January, neither Guerrier nor Philogene had ever set foot on American soil. So imagine the surprise of these two men from a country whose average temperature is 90 degrees when they arrived in a place experiencing 20-degree temperatures and snow. When we first met them, they were wearing knit caps and gloves, probably for the first time in their lives, says Nick Hallack, president & CEO of MediSend. Despite the tragedies that they have experienced, I could immediately sense how eager they were to begin a new life, full of hope and promise. I know that AAMI members are going to find inspiration in Phanel and Luxon and their endeavor to make a real difference in their hospitals and communities. MediSend is very proud to share this transformational effort with AAMI. To be sure, the different climate is just one of many adjustments they ll have to make as they spend the next several months in America. They ll be exposed to new foods, new social activities, and, of course, a new language. French is the first language for both men, although they have some exposure to English. So, one of the first orders of business is to put the trainees through a fast-track English class with an accomplished teacher. AAMI will provide periodic glimpses into their technical training, their exposure to American culture, and ultimately their life-saving work in Haiti via AAMI News, AAMI s website, and other vehicles. A woman walks past rubble caused by an earthquake in Haiti last year. Technical Training MediSend s Biomedical Repair Training Program will prepare Guerrier and Philogene to install, calibrate, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot sophisticated devices and instrumentation, which are critical for effective delivery of healthcare. They ll learn proper installation, operation, and repair, as well as preventive and safety inspections to ensure that biomedical equipment meets U.S. and international safety standards. AAMI is very excited to partner with MediSend on what promises to be a life-saving project, and we are eager to follow Luxon and Phanel on their journey, says AAMI President Mary Logan. No one can forget the heartbreaking images of the devastation in Haiti. We hope AAMI members and everyone in the medical technology community will get behind these two men and cheer them on as they prepare to bring a measure of hope back to their homeland. AAMI will share videos, photos, anecdotes and more through a new blog dedicated to the program all year long. Stay tuned for details. AAMI News www.aami.org February 2011/13
Haitian Trainees Begin Learning about Medical Equipment Two Haitian men are participating in a biomedical equipment training program through MediSend International in Texas that will prepare them to return to Haiti to service medical equipment that may save lives. Throughout the year, AAMI will provide updates on the trainees experiences in Texas and after they return to Haiti to work. Since arriving in Dallas to begin their training on Jan. 10, Luxon Philogene and Phanel Guerrier have cleared two major steps toward better understanding life-saving medical equipment, knowledge they hope to put to good use in their devastated homeland of Haiti. The first step was the completion of an intensive English immersion course. This was important, as the biomedical equipment training these Frenchspeaking Haitians and their classmates receive is in English. The second step was the successful completion of a Red Cross course on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automatic external defibrillators (AED), and blood-borne pathogens. Phanel says he found the Red Cross training to be particularly enlightening. Before, [in Haiti] when I would see someone lying on the ground, perhaps having a heart attack, I would have to just stand by and do nothing. Now I can really help. I know what to do. One thing we cannot do in Haiti is call 911. There is no such thing there. Luxon says the Red Cross training will be useful for developing a disaster plan, adding that he wished he had the information a year ago during the earthquake in Haiti and the ensuing disorder. These initial steps paved the way for Luxon and Phanel to begin Dallasbased MediSend International s Biomedical Repair Training Program. Along with their classmates from around the world, Luxon and Phanel are learning to install, calibrate, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot sophisticated devices and instrumentation, which are critical for effective delivery of healthcare. They re also learning proper installation, operation, and repair, as well as preventive and safety inspections to ensure that biomedical equipment meets U.S. and international safety standards. Bleak Conditions Continue Sadly, the conditions in Haiti and the level of poverty are even worse than one might imagine. Hospital staffs are attempting to function with the barest of necessities, and with a lack of skilled technicians to help. But Phanel and Luxon are both committed to learning as much as they can before returning to their respective Haitian hospitals this summer. Although they had been working at hospitals in Haiti before arriving at MediSend, they lacked the training, skills, and tools needed to maximize their effectiveness at their facilities. After completing the full biomedical equipment training program, Luxon will return to International Child Care s Grace Children s Hospital, while Phanel will return to his hospital in Cange, called Zamni Lasante a Partners in Health Hospital. Phanel Guerrier, left, and Luxon Philogene work on circuit boards during MediSend s Biomedical Repair Training Program. New Experiences Having never ventured outside of Haiti until this training, the men were surprised to meet classmates from such far-flung places as Nigeria, Togo, and Papua New Guinea. But they ve enjoyed working collaboratively and learning with their new friends. The trainees have been learning through a computer-assisted training system that the U.S. military uses to provide instruction in electronics. They ve also begun working with electricity and soldering, and their confidence is growing daily. Thanks to difficult weather conditions in the Dallas area and the frenetic pace of the program, Luxon says there has been precious little time to experience American culture and fun activities outside of the classroom. But that time will come. For now, the trainees are focused on learning as much as they can so they can return home and help relieve the suffering of their fellow Haitians. Next month, we ll discuss the trainees initial exposure to American culture, and their further exploration of medical instrumentation. AAMI News www.aami.org March 2011/13
Haitian Trainees Halfway Through Biomedical Program Two Haitian men are participating in a biomedical equipment training program through MediSend International in Texas that will prepare them to return to their earthquake-ravaged homeland to service medical equipment that may save lives. Throughout the year, AAMI will provide updates on the trainees experiences in Texas and after they return to Haiti to work. Luxon Philogene and Phanel Guerrier now have three months of biomedical training under their belts, meaning they re just three months away from returning to their devastated homeland. During their regular phone calls home, their families encourage them and assure them that their country is eagerly waiting for them. This encouragement only increases their desire to bring their newly acquired biomedical skills back to Haiti, which so desperately needs their help. We want to make them proud, says Luxon. Through MediSend International s intensive biomedical training program, Luxon and Phanel have most recently completed their classroom and lab experiments for direct current (DC) and alternating circuit (AC) circuits, semiconductors, sensors and transducers, and biomedical instrumentation. They ve also learned how to install, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot basic biomedical equipment. And they ve demonstrated competency by successfully completing the first semester exam. I ve never worked so hard in my life, says Phanel. But my sights are set on the outcome of our efforts. Phanel Guerrier, left, and Luxon Philogene work in MediSend s training lab to repair medical equipment to help their native country Haiti. Living in the Lone Star State Life in Texas is quite different from life at home for Luxon and Phanel. Neither had ventured out of Haiti before this experience. MediSend houses them and its other trainees in apartments just off the MediSend campus in Dallas. The apartments are outfitted with modern conveniences some of which the men had never seen before. In fact, Luxon didn t know how to use his washer and dryer, and had to call on MediSend s manager of student services, Belinda Minyard, for help. The trainees affectionately call her Mama BJ. Mama BJ serves a special role for the trainees. She is the first person all trainees meet when they first arrive in Dallas. She welcomes them, helps them settle into their apartments, and is available to help with any questions or problems. She even helped Luxon and Phanel find a church to attend. Her presence gives the men a sense of security in a foreign environment. Once a week, they go shopping for food and necessities. The supermarket, where everything is available all in one place, is something entirely new to them. And Wal-Mart is completely overwhelming to them. Having completed an intensive English immersion course at the beginning of their training, the trainees are getting more comfortable with the language, and they practice their English with new acquaintances at every opportunity. All of the training they receive at MediSend is in English, so their English skills are crucial. Luxon and Phanel will return to Haiti this summer. Luxon will work in International Child Care s Grace Children s Hospital in Port-Au-Prince, while Phanel will return to his hospital in rural Cange, called Zamni Lasante a Partners in Health Hospital. Both are inspired by the great need for trained biomedical technicians in their country, and both are passionate about making a real difference in the level of healthcare in their Haitian communities. Next month in AAMI News, we ll discuss the trainees first experience with the American news media, and their further exploration of medical technology. 16/April 2011 www.aami.org AAMI News
Haitian Biomed Trainees Experience American News Media Two Haitian men are participating in a biomedical equipment training program through MediSend International in Texas that will prepare them to return to their earthquake-ravaged homeland to service medical equipment that may save lives. In this continuing series, AAMI provides updates on the trainees experiences. Imagine you ve just completed an intensive, three-month biomedical technology immersion course in a new language, when a major newspaper and a major television network arrive to interview you in this new language. That s exactly what happened to Luxon Philogene and Phanel Guerrier, the two Haitian trainees who are in the midst of learning about biomedical equipment support in Dallas, TX. This summer, they ll return to Haiti equipped with newfound skills to help provide critical equipment support to two hospitals. Their efforts are so inspiring that a reporter from The Dallas Morning News and a television news crew each interviewed the men to learn more about their journey. The Dallas Morning News interview resulted in an April 8 story by columnist James Ragland. Ragland interviewed in English these two native French speakers for more than 30 minutes each. In the newspaper column, Guerrier, 32, tells Ragland that, In Haiti, we don t have the equipment or the means to repair it. This program will teach me how to repair the equipment, and when I get back home, the situation will be different. Meanwhile, Ragland quotes Philogene, 28, as saying, This training is very, very challenging. I ve learned so many things. Philogene can t wait to return home to begin putting his new skills to work, and to assist healthcare workers in Haiti with the proper use, maintenance, and repair of biomedical equipment. By all accounts, the Philogene and Guerrier were very relaxed during the interviews, and each had a great conversation with the writer. Amazingly, the men were not even conversant in English just a few months earlier. The television interviews were a different story altogether, through no fault of the trainees. They were fully prepared to face the camera, when the cameraman announced that there was some trouble with the camera equipment, and that the shoot would have to be postponed until later in the day. Nick Hallack, president and CEO of MediSend International, joked to the cameraman that the next time he should have MediSend check the equipment to make sure it s working properly. Later that afternoon, Philogene and Guerrier stood before the cameras, overcame their nerves, and gave a great delivery. Everything appeared to be on track until MediSend heard from the reporter that the equipment once again had had a glitch, and that the segment would need to be reshot. But once again, they gave the interviews, and did another great job. Back in the Classroom The trainees are learning about a variety of instrumentation, such as spectrophotometry, clinical chemistry analyzers, urine analyzers, microscopes, hematology analyzers, ancillary equipment for clinical laboratories, and sterilizing instruments. They re also learning about the anatomy and physiology of Luxon Philogene (left) and Phanel Guerrier work on Philips VS1 Vital Signs Monitors in the MediSend Biomedical Repair Training Laboratory. the human body, noninvasive blood pressure and vital signs monitoring systems, electrocardiographs, patient monitoring systems, the physics of ultrasound, and ultrasound equipment. Before returning to Haiti, the trainees will participate in a professional internship in Baylor Health Care System hospitals where they will learn the basics of managing a biomedical department. And instructors from Philips Global Academy will provide the trainees courses and certificates before they are redeployed to Haiti. In just a couple of months, Guerrier and Philogene will be back in Haiti, making an incalculable difference in the lives of many of their countrymen. In the next issue of AAMI News, we'll follow the trainees as they take their final steps toward returning home to Haiti. AAMI News www.aami.org May 2011/21
Haitians Graduate From BMET Training, Return Home Throughout the year, AAMI has chronicled the efforts of two Haitian men as they participated in a biomedical equipment training program through MediSend International in Dallas, TX. The program prepared them to return to their earthquake-ravaged homeland to service medical equipment that may save lives. In this continuing series, AAMI provides updates on the experiences of these two men. Luxon Philogene and Phanel Guerrier are filmed as they walk the halls of Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, TX, where the two Haitians interned. Their inspiring story drew the interest of local media. Three days after an emotional graduation ceremony at MediSend International, Luxon Philogene and Phanel Guerrier returned home to Haiti, equipped with critical new knowledge and skills that they ll apply at two Haitian hospitals. Geurrier, 32, will work again at Zamni Lasante a Partners in Health hospital in rural Cange, and Philogene, 28, will work for the first time in International Child Care s Grace Children s Hospital in Port-Au-Prince. To prepare for their return, the men spent six intense months learning all they could about proper maintenance and repair of medical equipment. At the conclusion of their training, they participated in an industrial internship at Baylor Health Care System in Dallas in which they learned managerial skills, customer service, and inventory management. Their efforts have been so inspiring that a couple of Dallas-area television stations aired segments about the trainees just prior to their graduation. In one segment, MediSend instructor Trevor Johnson told Dallas ABC-TV affiliate that in Haiti, they ve got rooms full of equipment that is broken, or equipment in their shop that is still in the box because no one knows where to install them. It s important for these gentlemen to come here and be able to learn those skills necessary so they can go back and really make an impact on their healthcare system. Guerrier and Philogene each had opportunities to speak during the TV segments as well. I think this training will help me and help Luxon Philogene, left, and Phanel Guerrier pose with their classmates on the MediSend Campus in Dallas, TX. my country so much, Philogene told WFAA. Said Guerrier, When I get back to my country, I will be able to change something. I won t disappoint them. It s remarkable that only five months before these interviews, the men were learning English through an intensive language immersion course that kicked-off their training. In honor of their graduation, AAMI President Mary Logan sent a letter of congratulations to the graduates. You and your families arrive at this special point in time with excitement and relief, on top of awe, inspiration, and pride for the work that you have accomplished under the care of the people who have supported you on this journey, Logan wrote. It will be exciting and fun to continue to learn with you as you begin your next journey: returning to your homes and bringing new expertise to your work. I know your family and friends have missed you and are eager to see you again. You will no doubt make them very proud as you bring these new life-saving skills back home with you. While there was little time for sightseeing over the past several months, Guerrier, Philogene, and their classmates from other parts of the world did manage to squeeze in a few field trips most recently riding on Dallas rail transit system, visiting Dealy Plaza, and the JFK Memorial. They also went shopping at a western-wear store, and were introduced to Texas barbecue. With the men now back home and having begun the critical work of helping their hospitals care for patients, AAMI will provide further updates on their work in the months ahead. 14 AAMI News July 2011