Helping out in Haiti

See one, do one, teach one. Dr Vida Hamilton, consultant anaesthetist at Waterford General Hospital, Ireland, takes advantage of ultrasound guidance for the first time in Haiti.

During his recent trip to Haiti, SonoSite’s robust MicroMaxx point-of-care ultrasound system proved vital to Dr Sameer Bhandari, a consultant anaesthetist working with the Merlin medical relief agency.

Dr Bhandari explained: “When I got the call asking me to go to Haiti I had no idea what to expect, but tried to be as prepared as possible. Ultrasound imaging forms a vital part of my work and so I immediately contacted SonoSite about the loan of a hand­carried ultrasound system.

“SonoSite was generous enough to provide a MicroMaxx system with a selection of transducers, so I packed my bags safe in the knowledge that I would have access to the equipment I needed.”

On arrival in Haiti he was assigned to a small field hospital set up on the courts of a local tennis club affectionately known as ‘Wimbledon’ by the locals.

See the full report on page 40 of the May 2010 issue of RAD Magazine.