New York, N.Y. - Today, in its continued efforts to increase access to essential general and reconstructive surgery in the Caribbean, Doctors On Call (D.O.C., Organization Inc.), launched its Continuing Medical Education Training Program for Caribbean surgeons. In partnership with the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Harlem Hospital Center, and North General Hospital in New York City, D.O.C. will offer a one-month training attachment to Dr. Junior Taylor, Plastic Surgery consultant at Kingston Public Hospital and The National Chest Clinic in Jamaica.

"This is by far one of the most important surgical outreach initiative we will undertake," said Dr. Norman Morrison, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and vice president of Doctors On Call. "Our program offers consultants exposure to the newest surgical techniques in the operating room, important research studies, and clinical rotations in either plastic and reconstructive surgery, general and vascular surgery, ear nose throat surgery, or urology." He added, "We're providing the training and we're learning too."

Dr. Taylor says he will take this opportunity to focus on improving surgical technique. "I am very excited about this promising program. D.O.C. is a very good resource for this type of exposure." Among the other resources, Dr. Taylor will also have the opportunity to interact with clinical administration, nursing staff, and radiology laboratory personnel.

Next year, the program will be expanded to include Maxiollofacial specialists, and Urologists," Dr. Morrison said.

"This program should lead to a better understanding of the surgical strengths and weaknesses of the Caribbean healthcare system," Dr. Morrison said. D.O.C. successfully carried out its first surgical outreach mission in Jamaica last spring, at Annotto Bay Hospital located in the parish of St. Mary. More than 50 patients received care and 29 patients underwent general or reconstructive surgery according to D.O.C. records.

Dr. Morrison said the Continuing Medical Education Training program could "Potentially be the beginning of a more global way to treat patients in the Caribbean. Once the surgeons are trained we can easily work from New York with medical teams anywhere in the Caribbean via telephone, the internet and telemedicine conferencing." He added that the D.O.C. medical team already uses the internet to respond to queries on difficult clinical scenarios from Caribbean surgeons.

Dr. Morrison stated that the training at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat, Harlem Hospital Center and North General Hospital are co-sponsored by the surgery departments. Other teaching hospitals in New York City have already expressed an interest in participating in the program.

Doctors On Call's medical team will return to Jamaica from March 31 to April 7, 2002 for their spring mission, and the team is expected to travel to St. Kitt's and Nevis this fall.

For more information about D.O.C. log on to the website www.doc-online.org.


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Sophia Johnson
347-680-6359
Email: pressinquiry@doc-online.org

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