GBMC Doctor Talks Live From Haiti

BALTIMORE, Md. January 18, 2010 A Greater Baltimore Medical Center OB/GYN physician, in Haiti as part of a team providing medical support to earthquake victims, has delivered a baby over the weekend, and hospital officials today announced a $10,000 donation to purchase medical supplies for the earthquake devastated region.

The people of Haiti are going through a very difficult time right now and we hope our contribution can be of some assistance for the brave and dedicated medical personnel on the ground who are taking care of scores of injured people, said Larry Merlis, GBMCs president and chief executive officer.

GBMCs $10,000 donation will be used to assist MedShare International, a standing GBMC partner and nonprofit, with coordinating shipments of medical supplies and equipment to Haiti.

On Friday, Carol Ritter, M.D. and her husband Tom Ritter, D.D.S., a Towson dentist, traveled to the Dominican Republic and then on to Haiti with a group of orthopedic surgeons and MedShare officials, transporting more than 50 boxes of supplies to the area. The Ritters began caring for patients over the weekend, and they report via their blog at www.carolandtominhaiti.com that Carol delivered a baby, who was named after her. There will be work for medical teams here for years and years, they report.

Medical personnel are facing an extreme shortage of IV antibiotics, more than 100 crush injuries, and many patients with existing infections that need urgent medical care, according to the blog. Doctors and other providers are working in conditions vastly different than in the United States. There are no autoclaves (for infection control), no bleach, nothing, the Ritters report. Hope to get boiling water disinfection up soon.

The couple has participated in a number of prior medical relief missions, including to Haiti, and expected to encounter more than 1,800 patients in the 100-bed hospital where they have previously volunteered. Ironically, Dr. Tom Ritter had been scheduled to visit Haiti this week for a conference on charcoal use and to give a lecture at the Haitian dental school.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Haiti
• hospital
• Baltimore
• GBMC
• disaster
• earthquake
• rescue
• USAR
• FEMA