Kingbrook Efforts for Haiti & Staff Members:

Physicians from Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center departed on January 20th for a disaster relief mission sponsored by the National Organization for the Advancement of Haiti (NOAH). The relief team included: Kingsbrook’s Director of Surgical Services, Dr. William Lois, Dr. Henry Paul, Dr. Wilfred Herard, Dr. Edward Smith, Dr. Peter Mollica, Dr. Seth Finkelstein, Nadege Jean Baptiste, RN, Sueann Dickson, RN, Marlene Mayard, RN and Losia Arguelles, RN. The team’s mission was to set up an emergency clinic to treat fractures, lacerations and minor traumas. The team successfully treated hundreds of patients and shared their experiences with The New York Daily News, Modern health Care Magazine and Crain's NY Business.

Kingsbrook raised over $13,000 and donated to the American Red Cross and National Organization for the Advancement of Haiti for fruther relief efforts.

FOR OUR STAFF:

We have many staff members who are still missing relatives, as such, we have set-up a computer in our lobby to access CNN and Red Cross missing persons sites. This was provided to all employees, especially those who may not have computer access at home.

Kingsbrook partnered with mental health professionals at NYU, who in-serviced our social workers and therapists, to provide counseling sessions to staff members affected by the Haiti disaster. As such, we now have an in-house “help-line” for those seeking emotional support during this difficult time.

We organized two "Prayer Services For Hope", for over 150 of our staff and community residents. The service included community clergy and members of our staff involved with local ministries.

Our Public Affairs department distributes “Haiti Information Updates” to staff weekly (via e-mail)—updating them on any and every detail we receive. Information shared inlcuded the following links:

For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.

People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225. 

CNN & the International Red Cross have established websites to help locate loved ones in Haiti. Below are the links you can access from your home computers

CNN Ireport sitte : http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=381628

International Red Cross site: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/WFL_HTI.NSF/DocIndex/locate_eng?opendocument

Additional info: Many have expressed an interest in possibly traveling to Haiti to assist. Individuals should not travel to Haiti unless they are part of an approved relief effort. Donations of cash to credible relief organizations are the most responsible way to assist Haitian humanitarian relief activities. Due to the devastation of infrastructure in Haiti, goods cannot be received, stored or distributed. Transportation of donated items by local, state, or federal governments should not be assumed to be available. If you have any questions please contact SEMO Response through the State Emergency Communication Center at 518-292-2200.