Best Practices in Short Term Medical Missions

1. Best Practices in Short Term Medical Missions Ron Brown, M.A. Associate Director GHO CMDA Nov. 12, 2010

2. Presentation Outline • Philosophy of Ministry • Partnership with Local Host Ministry • Preparing and Recruiting • Local Host Responsibility • Arrival and Clinic Week • Extracurricular Activities • Leave Taking/ Farewell/ Re-Entry

3. Philosophy of Ministry • Purpose • Use short-term medical missions for a long-term impact • Host Ministry / Patients / Participants • Local Church is Priority • Goals • Use medical / dental clinics to open doors for evangelism and discipleship • Matt 28: 19 “Go and make disciples of all nations…”

4. Philosophy of Ministry Cont’d • Servant Attitude • Use Jesus model of being a servant • Came to serve, not be served • Washed feet!!! • Be a learner • Learn and apply principles of Biblical humility, cross cultural sensitivity • Serve to empower local church / local ministries

5. Partnership with Local Host Ministry • Pastor (s) • Missionary • Para Church Group • Local Physicians, Dentists, Nurses, etc.

6. Partnership Cont’d • Keys: • Going to serve them vs. * Dependency Issues • Going to help them plant, grow and strengthen their local church • Often requires an initial site visit to prepare for successful outreach with minimal surprises

7. Preparing and Recruiting • Spiritual and Cross Cultural Preparation • Books, Articles, Web pages • Team Composition • Team Leadership: Medical/ Dental/ Spiritual Directors • Team of 20 = 4-6 providers, 1-2 dentists, dental hygienist/ assistant, 1-2 pharmacist, 3-4 RNs, PT, 3+ logistics • Nationals compliment team in registration, logistics, crowd control, counseling/ evangelism, drinks & meals, travel, discipleship & follow up

8. Preparing and Recruiting Cont’d • Budget • Travel • In-Country Expenses • Formulary, Supplies, Gifts, etc. • Fund Raising • Letter • Family and Friends • Local Church • Civic Groups

9. Preparing and Recruiting Cont’d • Formulary (Medical Director, Pharmacist) • Equipment • Triage, Lab and supplies • Dental • Extractions • Restorative - more equipment intensive • Community Health Materials, Wheel chairs, etc. • Readers, Sunglasses

10. Local Host Responsibilities • Strategic Purpose for Medical Clinics • Why are we going to this place at this time? • What are long term goals and purpose • Registration of Docs + In-Country • Customs and Immigration • Be Proactive, Know what is needed!!! • Mexico, Nicaragua, China, India • * Security Concerns

11. Local Host Responsibilities Cont’d • Interpreters: Key Players!!! • Promote Volunteerism, Kingdom Mindset • Evangelism, Counseling, Discipleship / Follow-up • Promotion of Clinic Week (s) • Logistics of Travel, Lodging, Meals, Water, etc.

12. * Security * • Areas of Concern for You • Open or Closed / Limited access country • Police, Public Security Bureau, etc. • Vehicle Safety and Accidents • Buddy System

13. Security Cont’d • Insurance • Adams and Associates www.aaintl.com • Red 24 http://srvb.red24.info/nonmembers/ • Orientation for: Crisis Management Plan • Hostage Situations, War, Natural Disasters • Governmental Action , Governmental Coup • Events that create negative public attention • Terrorist action or threat • Multiple deaths , Kidnapping, Criminal Actions

14. Arrival and Clinic Week(Adapt to Open or Closed Country) • Orientation with Team Leader & Medical Director • Local Pastors • Local Physicians • Set up Medical Clinic • Set up Dental Clinic • Set up Pharmacy/ Pre-packing meds

15. Clinic Layout • School is Ideal / Complex with central gate • Church with classrooms • Registration by local team members • Counseling / Evangelism or @ end of clinic • Local pastors decide • Local believers to lead • Triage • Consults • Pharmacy

16. Maximize Filter, Flow, Patient consideration • Outside waiting area / Gate Keeper!!! • Filter to Registration area • Quiet area for counseling/ evangelism • Triage • Organize Consults by special needs • GYN/ PEDS/ Portable Ultrasound/ etc. • Basics meds @ each consult • Analgesics, vitamins, anti-parasite • Pharmacy placement near exit

17. Clinic Function • Other clinics / Com. Health training/ Reading and Sun Glasses, others • Counseling area (Evangelism/ Discipleship) • Maximize Patient Flow • Local church participation/ Local Health Care Professionals Partnership

18. Team Spiritual Development(Spiritual Director) • Team Devotions AM/ PM • Volunteers to lead AM • Music Worship • Another share their testimony • Team Pastor for PM/ deeper Bible Study • Early AM optional accountability groups • Men and Women • Evening Debriefing/ Grand Rounds • Coordinate with Team Leader, Medical Dir and Spiritual Dir • God Sightings

19. Extracurricular Activities • Focus on serving local pastors and community • Children’s Program / Mini VBS • Pastor’s Conference/ Training • Great way to engage the local pastors, local ministries dedicated to pastor training, discipleship • GO International www.gointernational.org • Downline Ministries www.downlineministries.com • Music/ Drama (Best done by local hosts) • Crusade for Christ (locally directed)

20. Leave Taking/ Farewell/ Re-Entry • Final Fellowship Dinner with local partners • Recognition of Local Pastors, Hosts, Spouses • Appropriate gifts, Special Thank You!!! • In-Country follow up • Discipleship/ Medical/ Dental/ Surgical • Final Debriefing evening (weekend) with team • Re-Entry Booklet/ Devotional • Review Re-Entry issues, team help each other • Face to Face, phone, email, etc.

21. Accountability • Team • Family • Home Church • Acts 1:8 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Uttermost • Church Mission’s Committee • Local Outreaches / Inner City/ Un- and Under- insured clinics, Native Indian communities

22. Taking it to the Next Level • Saline Solution Conference/ DVD Set by CMDA • Impact on your own practice • Spanish version • Multiply efforts in community, state, professional associations, etc. • Perspectives Course on the World Christian Movement • 15 week class on the Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic Perspective

23. Taking it to Next Level Cont’d • WARNING!!! Focus on Completing the Great Commission… • This could lead to Full-Time Medical Mission Call • Tim Peklo, Tom Boeve, Mark and Mona, Tom Hoak, Rachel Middleton, Tom Bonifield, Dan Johnson, to name a few families and individuals in recent years…

24. Taking it to Next Level Cont’d • Remember why we do this • It’s not about us • IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM • “No Reserve” • “No Retreat” • “No Regrets” Life and Death of William Borden

25. Resources • Site Visit Form / GHO • Mission Survival Kit • David Stevens, MD/ Gene Rudd, MD CMDA Bookstore • CHE Community Health Evangelism (Education) • www.LifeWind.org

26. Resources Cont’d • Community Health Materials • www.hepfdc.info • Ripe for Harvest / Coming Home: A Deeper Roots Publication • www.DeeperRoots.com • Chorus Booklet GHO • Saline Solution CMDA www.cmda.org

27. Resources Cont’d • Perspectives Course • www.perspectives.org • * Dependency Issues Glenn Schwartz • www.wmausa.org • World Wide Lab • www.wwlab.org • Dental Handbook for Short-Term Mission Trips • Jack Shuler, DDS, FAGD Nardos J. Shuler • World Dental Relief • www.dentalrelief.com

28. Resources Cont’d • Fund Raising Letter Sample GHO • Formulary Sample GHO • H. Bruce Carr www.helpingoverseasdirectory.org • Praxis Meds http://praxiswss.ateam.com • IDA http://www.idafoundation.org • Evangecube • www.e3resources.org • Readers from Sharkeyes L.A., CA • www.sharkeyes.com $.67 a pair

29. Resources Cont’d • Books for Spiritual Preparation • Jesus MD / David Stevens, MD CMDA bookstore • Miracle at Tenwek / The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury by Gregg Lewis CMDA bookstore • Humility C J MaHanney • Pursuit of God A W Tozer • Biographies of Hudson Taylor, William Carey, Cameron Townsend, others