January 9, 2004

A warm welcome despite cold weather

The 58-members of the International Medical and Surgical Response Team (IMSuRT) returned to a warm and friendly welcome despite the cold temperature at Logan Airport Jan. 7.

MGHer Susan Briggs, MD, director of IMSuRT, at a press conference at Logan Airport

The team had spent 10 days in Bam, Iran, helping victims of a devastating earthquake that hit the area Dec. 26. Members of MGH Patient Care Services, along with friends and family members, were on hand to give the team a hero's welcome home.

The team of medical professionals, which included 24 MGHers, was deployed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Dec. 27 to bring their medical expertise — as well as a portable, deployable hospital and specialized medical equipment — to aid the estimated 20,000 people injured. The earthquake measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and killed approximately 30,000 people.

"This is an incredible group of people," says Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for MGH Patient Care Services and chief nurse. "They are so dedicated to their work and were committed to helping the people of Iran under extraordinary circumstances. The MGH community is extremely proud of them and welcomes them home with open arms."

The MGH community also would like to thank the remainder of the 130-member IMSuRT who were not deployed to Iran but who were ready and waiting in case there was a need for more aid. "A tremendous amount of work goes on behind the scenes to support those who are deployed in these situations," says Ann Prestipino, senior vice president for Surgical and Anesthesia Services and the MGH Cardiac Program. "The rest of the team should also be congratulated for the work they do and for being willing and ready to be activated if necessary."

Marie LeBlanc, RN, nurse manager for Trauma Services and a supervisor for IMSuRT, adds that recognition should also go to the MGH employees who took on extra work to cover for their colleagues, so that they could go on this life-saving trip. "It is times like this that it becomes so evident how the MGH truly is a family. We help each other in times of need," she says.

See next week's issue of Hotline for more details about the IMSuRT's trip to Iran.