PEDIATRIC HEART SURGERY MISSION

HANOI, VIETNAM – NOV. 2010

The International Management Committee and Board of Trustees of CardioStart International are pleased to announce the second return mission to Hanoi, Vietnam.  You are warmly invited to participate in this groundbreaking event.  In conjunction with Humanitarian Services for Vietnamese Children (HSCV) a pediatric and adult congenital/acquired heart surgery mission will commence on November 27th, 2010 for two weeks in Hanoi Vietnam. The mission will involve very young pediatric cases, and some young adults with severe vascular disease arising (mostly) from rheumatic fever.

MISSION DETAILS

Presently, only 10% of children in Vietnam are receiving life-saving surgery for congenital heart disease.

This mission will assist with advancing pediatric and near adult congenital heart surgery and cardiology, and to help the local team with diagnostics and more complex techniques than they are currently handling.

The mission will take place at the new 200-bed E-Hospital Cardiovascular Center.  This university-based hospital has just opened a new center for pediatric and adult cardiac care and has been allocated by the

Ministry of Health to become a flagship hospital representing State-of-the Art cardiovascular services for the nation. Its cardiovascular service is being led by Dr. Lê Ngọc Thành.  His unit at the Viet Duc hospital already has a nationally admired reputation with an established history of success in conducting pediatric and older congenital heart cases.  Many of his staff have joined the new unit, and bring their expertise with them. Collectively, they are seeking CardioStart’s help to develop their program to ensure gold standards are in place and safe passage of their children through the system is ensured.

Deficits in equipment, supplies and education affect their ability to help these children.  With assistance of equipment, education and program development there is hope that more children can be helped in a timely manner.  This mission will be strongly EDUCTION FOCUSED.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Interested volunteers will be asked to fund their own airline ticket, VISA, required immunizations and one evening meal per day. We are at present trying to secure funds to cover volunteers’ costs within the country for the hotel in Hanoi.

Our team will include:

2 Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons OR…… one pediatric and one adult surgeon

1  Scrub Nurse

1 Circulating Nurse

1-2 Pediatric Cardiologists or adult congenital cardiology interest

1 Pediatric Intensivist

1 Pediatric Anesthesiologist

1 anesthesiology technician/nurse

6 Pediatric Intensive Care Nurses

1 Respiratory Therapist

1-2 Pediatric Perfusionists

1-2 Biomedical Engineers

1 Child life Specialist

1 Educator

1 Administrative coordinator

Interpretors

Applicants who wish to offer their expertise in another capacity will be warmly reviewed.

HANOI

(Vietnamese: Hà Nội), the capital of Vietnam, is a fascinating blend of East and West, with Chinese influence from centuries of dominance, and French design from its colonial past. It is largely unspoiled by modern architecture of the 1970s and 80s, and is now going through a modernization that is making it a rising star in Southeast Asia.  Visitors will find several museums of historical significance including the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” which held Senator John McCain during the Vietnam War. Hoan Kiem Lake is a pleasant park in the center of town, within easy walking distance from anywhere in the Old Quarter.  Hanoi is considered a culinary capital of Vietnam with a culinary school and many highly regarded restaurants.  Hanoi residents greeted CardioStart volunteers last year with great warmth and the attitude towards foreigners, including those from the USA is very courteous and hospitable.

OUTREACH PROGRAM

CardioStart has a thriving outreach program to facilitate local clinic development and also support struggling orphanage programs in the communities close to the hospital being assisted. On this occasion, we will collaborate with Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV) who will instruct us later in the year on a suitable project. A limited number of places are available to participate in the projects and non-medical interested volunteers are welcome to apply.

APPLYING TO JOIN THE TEAM

If you wish to participate and become a team member, do contact us immediately by sending a copy of your resume/CV to our main office: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you do not have a resume, please fill out and send us the attached application.  Selection will be on a "first come - first served" basis and you will be notified within 2 weeks of your status. If you are selected for the team, you will receive the Team Registration Packet with full instructions.

Subsequent information will mostly be sent by e-mail. We therefore encourage you to use a personal e-mail account so that you can receive electronically formatted information about the mission. (Volunteers using hospital or company web servers have sometimes found that their institution’s spam filters block attachments).

Warm regards,

Janine Henson, RN, BSN, CCRN