Local organizations team up to support Haiti's healthcare system

Injured Haitians desperately in need of medical treatment will soon have advanced technology available to the medical professionals providing their care. Through a partnership of Stamford Hospital, FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA (Fujifilm), and AmeriCares, a portable digital x-ray system is being donated to the Haitian relief effort and will be sent to a hospital where currently x-ray capabilities are simply non-existent.

Physicians at the hospital in Carrefour, Haiti, located approximately 10 miles southwest from Port-au -Prince, will now greatly benefit from the use of x-ray when setting fractures and treating and evaluating a range of injuries and problems from the earthquake.

To honor both the donation and the dedication of the hospital staff going to Haiti, a press conference was held at Stamford Hospital's Tully Health Center on Friday morning, February 5.  Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia commended the diligence of the local organizations collaborating to assure that better medical care is made available.

"It is so gratifying for me to witness our area businesses and residents working together to help everyone in Haiti impacted by the devastating earthquake," Mayor Pavia said. "It is further proof of the talent and compassion that exists in Stamford."

David Reed, MD, a Stamford Hospital physician, recently returned from a week in Haiti where he saw first hand the dire medical situation that exists today.  Dr. Reed and the medical teams treated hundreds of patients, many of whom would have benefited from x-rays.

"To properly care for the tens of thousands that are injured, the needs are now beyond providing just the food and medical supplies.  We absolutely need x-ray imaging to provide care in the next phase of this disaster," Dr. Reed explained.

For the more than 30,000 Haitian natives living in the Greenwich / Stamford / Bridgeport region, knowing that medical aid is on the way is a comfort.  Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), met with local Haitian community leaders just prior to appearing at the press conference.

"So many people here in Connecticut have been personally touched by this tragedy, and knowing that their families, friends, and the greater Haitian population will benefit from the generosity of their friends, co-workers, and employers is truly inspiring," said Congressman Himes. "Thank you to Fujifilm, AmeriCares, Stamford Hospital, and all of the generous people who have contributed to the relief effort in Haiti. I am continually proud to be a member of this community and to represent you."

The digital x-ray system, the FCR Go from Fujifilm, is a portable system that includes all necessary components to take and view x-rays in one single piece of equipment.  It can easily be wheeled to the patient, and because the x-rays are digital, physicians in Haiti will be able to immediately view them (no x-ray film developing), eliminating any guesswork when treating and evaluating patients.  Elourde Joseph, a Stamford Hospital x-ray technologist with family in Haiti was trained by Fujifilm on the system and will be traveling to Haiti to help use it, and then train other medical professionals so there is continuity of care when she departs.

"It's both gratifying and humbling to know that the products we make can have such a profound impact and help save lives in Haiti," said Fujifilm Senior Vice President, Paul Genovese.  "Our sincere thanks to all those who have helped us deliver this system where the need is greatest, so that Elourde Joseph and the other medical professionals who are so tirelessly working can begin helping patients with more advanced tools."

Fujifilm donated the system to Stamford, Conn.-based AmeriCares, the global health and disaster relief organization who helped identify the medical location.  AmeriCares has delivered over $11 million in medicines and medical supplies to over 20 hospitals in Haiti since the earthquake struck, and their emergency response team has first hand knowledge of the needs throughout the region.  Once the x-ray system arrives, AmeriCares will provide transportation to Carrefour, Haiti.  

"AmeriCares has been delivering medical assistance to Haiti for more than 25 years, and we are committed to helping support and rebuild Haiti's health care system in the weeks, months and years ahead. We are pleased to work with Fujifilm and Stamford Hospital to deliver this portable x-ray equipment to Haiti. Its use will significantly improve the medical treatment available to the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake," said Elizabeth Furst Frank, Senior Vice President of Global Programs at AmeriCares.