Lessons learned from Broward health's Haiti relief efforts

Ms. Eckes-Roper, RN, MBA, is the Director of Emergency Preparedness for Broward Health, a safety net hospital system in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She also serves as the Region VII Health/Medical Chair for the Southeast Domestic Security Task Force. Following the January 2010 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti, Ms. Eckes-Roper began coordinating medical evacuation flights that carried more than 650 injured US citizens and Haitians to Florida hospitals; 563 of those patients treated in South Florida hospitals, including those within the Broward Health system.

In addition to treating earthquake victims, Broward Health has donated nearly 150 pallets of medical supplies and water and raised more than $30,000 from Broward Health employees. It also has partnered with Partners in Health and the Haitian government to provide medical care in Port-au-Prince's only public hospital, University Hospital. Since the disaster, more than 50 Broward Health medical personnel, included Ms. Eckes-Roper, have and are continuing to provide medical care in Port-au-Prince. Ms. Eckes-Roper will speak about her experience coordinating the influx of patients into Florida and providing medical care to victims of the disaster in Haiti.