ออออออออออออออออออออป FLYING DOCS OF บ DENTISTRY TODAY ษอออออออออออออออออ AMERICA ฬอออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออออน 05/11/90 Posted By: Sysop บ BULLETIN ศอออออออออออออออออ ออออออออออออออออออออผ FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA (Medical & Dental Aid) FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA is a nosectarian, nonpolitical agency serving worldwide areas suffering from health care shortages. FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA provides a well organized and managed "no cost" mission trip for dentists and physicians and support staff. The accomplishment of each trip will fulfill the following objectives: increase the opportunity for dentists/physicians to volunteer their skills, multiply the number of dentists/physicians providing dental/medical care for individuals in underpriviledged areas, and assure effective use of each volunteer's time and talent. Health care services are provided primarily (but not exclusively) to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Occasionally, an extended trip will be conducted to any region of the world where special needs are evident. Resources are concentrated on those people deprived of medical/dental care due to poverty, terrain, language, and cultural barriers. FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA provides the entire mission trip structure for physicians, dentists, osteopathic physicians, nursed, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, and medical support personnel. Included are transportation, medical and dental supplies, facilities for treatment, food and housing, itinerary and logistical support. Each medical mission is supported by two teams. Besides the U.S. based support staff and the accompanying escort, there is a specialized "mission" team at every site. This team precedes the dental/medical teams' arrival, assuring as effective an operation as possible within the given environment. MEDICAL AND DENTAL VOLUNTEERS Volunteers include physicians, dentists, osteopathic physicians, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, and other medical personnel willing to donate a minimum of four days a year ( Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) to undertake a "medical mission" journey to areas primarily in Mexico, Central America, the Carribbean, and U.S. Indian reservations. Occasionally, there are extended missions offered to those desiring to spend more time in an area with "emergency medical" needs. All transportation, medical and dental supplies, facilities for treatment, food and housing, itinerary and logistical support are supplied without cost to the volunteer. AVIATION In addition to commercial airlines, corporations, associating with FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA, provide their corporate planes and pilots to assist in the travel required on medical missions. SUPPLIES Pharmaceutical companies and medical aid organizations donate most medical and dental supplies and equipment. Other organizations and major corporations (ie. Beachcraft, Clarion Software, Winnebago, Days Inn Hotels) supply other needed support equipment and services. FUNDING Financial donations are sought from various corporations and businesses. Those directly involved in the medical and dental field are also encouraged to support the medical mercy missions. Other funding sources include insurance companies, philanthropists, and individual donors. Each medical mission is broken down into four interactive components. The following is an example of an itinerary. STEP ONE - INITIAL CONTACT When dental/medical personell express interest in FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA, they are sent information packets. Each packet includes a list of available dates and areas. Up to fourty dates spanning a year will ultimately be presented for selection. Upon selection of a mission date, and return of the application packet, a compatible itinerary is established and confirmed by letter. EXAMPLE OF AVAILABLE DATES MARCH 9 - 12 @ HONDURAS : DENTAL TEAM MARCH 25 - 28 @ MEXICO : MEDICAL TEAM APRIL 6 - 9 @ INDIAN RESERVATION : COMBINED DENTAL/MEDICAL TEAM APRIL 27 - 30 @ MEXICO : PEDIATRIC TEAM STEP TWO - MISSION BRIEFING After notification of acceptance and twenty-one days before the departure date, a portfolio regarding the trip is sent to each team member. Each portfolio includes: 1. individual profile of each accompanying team member, 2. exact location of medicla mission, with map and brief history of the area, 3. recommended articles to bring, 4. projected dental/medical needs of the area, including a report from the last visiting team, 5. personal itinerary that prescribes meeting places for pickup and a photo of the person(s) meeting the volunteer. STEP THREE - MISSION Most journeys begin Thursday evening ( or early Friday morning), returning Monday evening. A layover on the return route can be arranged if the team is in agreement. In this case the team would return Tuesday. Weekends are targeted to reduce the loss of "office" time. Twenty hours of dental/medical practice per mission, per doctor is planned for. At the prescribed departure location the team assembles and departs, receiving a briefing while en route. FRIDAY - Upon arrival, there is time to rest and become acclimated to the area. Dental/medical service begins and continues into the early evening. The objective is 5 to 6 hours of treatment the first day. SATURDAY - A full day of treatment with the more critical cases in the morning. The evening is free after 7 p.m. SUNDAY - The morning is free for R&R, church, sightseeing, your choice. Treatment resumes after lunch until dinner. After dinner volunteers will participate in an informal medical seminar with indigenous medical personnel. MONDAY - Fly out in the morning with a layover at one of the resort cities en route. Lunch at resort city and home by early evening. A completed evaluation form, provided to each team member, is requested back within three working days. Referral cards will also be provided. STEP FOUR - EVALUATION While on site the medical team will be photographed and the pictures used to promote team members and enhanc public relations. Upon return, each volunteer will receive a photo pack for personal use. These can be used for a photo display or coffee table album in reception rooms. In addition, FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA will send out press releases and photos to the local paper(s) of each volunteer if you so choose. Finally, each team member will be contacted personally. Any additional suggestions will be encouraged. Evaluations are essential. All will be read, and every effort will be made to implement suggestions which enhance the volunteers' experiences with FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA. ***************************************************************************** IF YOU DESIRE CONTACT WITH "FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA" LEAVE A MESSAGE HERE ON DENTISTRY TODAY BBS FOR THE SYSOP OR ALLAN GATHERCOAL OR WRITE OR CALL MR. GATHERCOAL AT THE FOLLOWING: ALLAN GATHERCOAL - DIRECTOR FLYING DOCTORS OF AMERICA 1951 AIRPORT ROAD DEKALB/PEACHTREE AIRPORT ATLANTA, GA 30341 (404) 451-3068 or (404) 447-6319 YOU MAY ALSO REACH MR. GATHERCOAL AT DENTISTRY TODAY BBS IN ATLANTA GA. (GAATL) VIA PCPURSUIT (404) 587-2362