Minneapolis/St. Paul Area Physicians for Peace Volunteers Treat Pediatric Burns in Central America

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Pediatric burn patient being treated with burn compression garment (May 2006, Nicaragua). Photo (c) 2009, Physicians for Peace / Stephen M. Katz

NORFOLK, VA (01/14/2009)(readMedia)-- A team of Physicians for Peace volunteers from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is carrying out a burn treatment mission in January, in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The team is focused on burn nurse education, burn rehabilitation training, and burn reconstructive surgery. The mission is part of Physicians for Peace's commitment to provide health care education and training in some of the world's most underserved regions. The mission, from January 10-18, includes the following team members:

Jana Almendinger, Physical Therapist

Oak Grove, MN

Dr. Steven Fisher, Physiatrist

Minneapolis, MN

Beth Franzen, Occupational Therapist

Minneapolis, MN

Liz Rivers, RN, Occupational Therapist

St. Paul, MN

Patty White de Barrios, Occupational Therapist

Minneapolis, MN

The problem of pediatric burns in the region is a devastating one. In poor neighborhoods in these countries, families often cook over open flames in small kitchens, and children are burned by cooking fires and hot cooking oil, or scalded by boiling water. Poor access to medical care compounds the problem. The Physicians for Peace Burn Program was developed to address these focuses on a number of areas:

• Burn Prevention Education

• Burn Nurse Education

• Burn Reconstructive Surgery

• Burn Rehabilitation

One aspect of treatment, the use of burn compression garments, has radically improved pediatric burn outcomes in the region. The garments compress the burned area during healing, reducing itching and scarring. In the past, when treatment was even available, reconstructive surgery would be required for 9 out of 10 pediatric burn victims. With the use of burn compression garments and other improvements in treatment introduced by Physicians for Peace trainers, only 1 in 10 pediatric burn victims now require follow-up surgery.

Another notable aspect of the mission is the participation of Liz Rivers, a burn specialist who developed a revolutionary plastic face mask used in burn treatment. Much like the compression garments, the face mask reduces facial scarring and improved final treatment results.

"The work that Physicians for Peace is carrying out through these missions would be impossible without the incredible gift of time and talent represented by these volunteers," noted Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), Physicians for Peace President and CEO. "Their participation demonstrates the spirit of generosity in the US that makes our work abroad possible."

ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE

Physicians for Peace is an international private voluntary organization that mobilizes healthcare educators to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Through effective, hands-on medical education and training, clinical care and donated medical supplies, Physicians for Peace creates long-term, sustainable, replicable, and evidence-based projects to help partner nations build medical capability and capacity to help themselves. Volunteers for the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization have conducted medical missions in more than 50 countries. More information is available at www.physiciansforpeace.org.

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