2
views
0
recommends
+1 Recommend
1 collections
    0
    shares
      • Record: found
      • Abstract: found
      • Article: found
      Is Open Access

      Medical equipment donations in Haiti: flaws in the donation process Translated title: Donaciones de equipo médico en Haití: fallas en el proceso de donación

      research-article

      Read this article at

      Bookmark
          There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

          Abstract

          The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January 2010 devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. The area's hospitals suffered major structural damage and material losses. Project HOPE sought to rebuild the medical equipment and clinical engineering capacity of the country. A team of clinical engineers from the United States of America and Haiti conducted an inventory and assessment of medical equipment at seven public hospitals affected by the earthquake. The team found that only 28% of the equipment was working properly and in use for patient care; another 28% was working, but lay idle for technical reasons; 30% was not working, but repairable; and 14% was beyond repair. The proportion of equipment in each condition category was similar regardless of whether the equipment was present prior to the earthquake or was donated afterwards. This assessment points out the flaws that existed in the medical equipment donation process and reemphasizes the importance of the factors, as delineated by the World Health Organization more than a decade ago, that constitute a complete medical equipment donation.

          Translated abstract

          El terremoto de magnitud 7,0 que azotó a Haití el 12 de enero del 2010 devastó la capital, Puerto Príncipe, y sus alrededores. Los hospitales del área afectada sufrieron daños estructurales importantes y pérdidas materiales. El Proyecto Hope procuró reconstruir el equipo médico y la capacidad de ingeniería clínica del país. Un equipo de ingenieros clínicos de Estados Unidos y Haití realizó un inventario y una evaluación del equipo médico en siete hospitales públicos afectados por el terremoto. El equipo encontró que solo 28% del equipo estaba funcionando adecuadamente y se usaba para la atención de los pacientes; otro 28% funcionaba pero no se empleaba por razones técnicas; 30% del equipo no funcionaba, pero podía repararse; y 14% no funcionaba y no podía repararse. La proporción de equipo en cada categoría fue similar, independientemente de que el equipo estuviera presente antes del terremoto o se hubiera donado después. Esta evaluación señala las fallas en el proceso de donación de equipo médico y recalca la importancia de los factores que implica una donación completa de equipo médico, ya delineados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud hace más de un decenio.

          Related collections

          Most cited references9

          • Record: found
          • Abstract: found
          • Article: found
          Is Open Access

          Beyond good intentions: lessons on equipment donation from an African hospital

          OBJECTIVE: In 2000, a referral hospital in the Gambia accepted a donation of oxygen concentrators to help maintain oxygen supplies. The concentrators broke down and were put into storage. A case study was done to find the reasons for the problem and to draw lessons to help improve both oxygen supplies and the success of future equipment donations. METHODS: A technical assessment of the concentrators was carried out by a biomedical engineer with relevant expertise. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key informants, and content analysis and inductive approaches were applied to construct the history of the episode and the reasons for the failure. FINDINGS: Interviews confirmed the importance of technical problems with the equipment. They also revealed that the donation process was flawed, and that the hospital did not have the expertise to assess or maintain the equipment. Technical assessment showed that all units had the wrong voltage and frequency, leading to overheating and breakdown. Subsequently a hospital donations committee was established to oversee the donations process. On-site biomedical engineering expertise was arranged with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) partner. CONCLUSION: Appropriate donations of medical equipment, including oxygen concentrators, can be of benefit to hospitals in resource-poor settings, but recipients and donors need to actively manage donations to ensure that the donations are beneficial. Success requires planning, technical expertise and local participation. Partners with relevant skills and resources may also be needed. In 2002, WHO produced guidelines for medical equipment donations, which address problems that might be encountered. These guidelines should be publicized and used.
            Bookmark
            • Record: found
            • Abstract: not found
            • Article: not found

            What we do

            (2024)
              Bookmark
              • Record: found
              • Abstract: not found
              • Article: not found

              What we do

              (2005)
                Bookmark

                Author and article information

                Contributors
                Role: ND
                Role: ND
                Journal
                rpsp
                Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública
                Rev Panam Salud Publica
                Organización Panamericana de la Salud (Washington )
                1020-4989
                April 2012
                : 31
                : 4
                : 345-348
                Affiliations
                [1 ] The Ohio State University USA
                [2 ] Carilion Clinic
                Article
                S1020-49892012000400012
                10.1590/s1020-49892012000400012
                96d199ae-9aa6-4b35-85a9-5d1a9e9b4fd1

                http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

                History
                Product

                SciELO Public Health

                Self URI (journal page): http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_serial&pid=1020-4989&lng=en
                Categories
                Health Policy & Services

                Public health
                Equipment and supplies, hospital,equipment and supplies, disasters,Haiti,Equipos y suministros de hospitales,equipos y suministros en desastres,Haití

                Comments

                Comment on this article