what we do
Community Empowerment works in tandem with local leadership to provide essential health care, while creating a self-sustaining system in which our assistance is no longer needed.
Primary Care
Primary care teams, in partnership with local medical trainees, work to provide medical consultations, training, and chronic disease management. Primary care includes Audiology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics, as well as Dentistry and Physical Therapy.
SUSTAINABILITY
Building a clinic is the first step in having self-sustaining care in a community. CE works with local leadership to develop or renovate a clinic that ultimately will be registered with the Ministry of Health.
EMR SYSTEM
CE works with local leadership to introduce Electronic Medical Records (EMR) to each community to provide continuity of care. EMRs improve quality of care by collecting critical data so we can monitor outcomes, plan improvements in care, and engage in clinical research.
learning
CE trains local community health workers to provide ongoing care. This allows for a sustainable, community-focused economic model.
Surgical Care
Surgical teams operate alongside local trainees to provide specialty care that is otherwise unavailable to the patients we serve. Surgical specialties include Craniofacial Plastics, Otolaryngology, Gynecology/Pelvic Reconstruction, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Urology, and Pediatric Urology.
Total Cases by specialty (2013 - present)
RECENT Life-changing procedures
Surgical team: ENT
Santa Vinicio is an undocumented Haitian woman living in Duquesa, Dominican Republic. For several years, she had a large mass the size of a baseball growing on the right side of her face. Embarrassed by her distorted smile and facing bullying from her peers, she often hid in her home.
With the help of community volunteers, who arranged for advanced imaging, a telehealth physician who administered pre-op care, and power tools donated by our Orthopedic partners, Santa finally received her life-altering surgery in spring 2023.
Surgical team: Plastics
A five-year-old girl presented with second and third degree burns on both hands. Without skin grafting, this young patient would have had permanent contractures from scarring and no use of her hands.
Dr. Ryan Smith, Plastic Surgeon, performed the operation and a team of Child Life Specialists supplied toys and devices to assist with her rehabilitation. The combination allowed for a great outcome despite the circumstances.
Specialty Programs
Specialty Initiatives are created based on our needs assessments. These programs provide screenings and treatment for diabetes, cervical cancer, and hearing impairments. Each initiative has specific goals by which the programs measure success, including health education to assist in ongoing care.
diabetes
Jessica Vlaming, a PA and faculty member at Rush University Medical Center, was awarded a Robert K. Pedersen Global Outreach Endowment to develop and implement a diabetes screening program. The program uses a combination of glucose testing and point-of-care Hemoglobin A1c testing. Screening is available for all adult patients with risk factors for diabetes such as obesity or a family history of diabetes.
audiology
The audiology initiative is focused on early detection and intervention for hearing impairment. It includes newborn hearing screenings, school hearing screenings, and full audiological evaluations. The team then identifies those that need additional intervention or who would qualify for hearing aids.
Cervical cancer
Haiti has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world and few women can access appropriate care. With a grant from Rush Hospital, Dr. Fiquita began a women's health initiative in Jerusalem that provides women pelvic exams and treatments for early stages of cervical cancer.
Read our article about vaginal discharge syndrome, recently published with the African Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Development Projects
CE works with Rush University students, Engineers without Borders and community leaders to identify service projects that impact public health. Projects have included providing new flooring, roofs, and homes to community members in need, as well as addressing issues of standing water due to improper drainage. Participants work with local masons, carpenters, and more to complete the project.
