Innovative Medical Missions

Innovative Medical Missions (IMM) is a program designed to address disparities in access to healthcare in the developing world through the use of advanced medical technologies.

About

The key aspects of this project are:

• The creation of a platform for bringing advanced technology.
• A novel treatment model for indigent care focused on managing medical missions, designed to train practitioners to coordinate medical missions and continuation of care in high-risk areas with resource-limited and nonexistent healthcare. Over time this will create local teams that are more prepared and responsive to the community needs.

THF partnered with LifeBot to deploy the LifeBot 5, a groundbreaking telemedicine device designed to provide technological support to healthcare teams in the most challenging environments. IMM has received the initial donation from the Mark Paul Terk Charitable Trust of a LifeBot 5.

Innovative Medical Missions' initiative of The Harris Institute promotes the innovative use of medical technologies in support of philanthropic healthcare missions worldwide.

IMM formed a partnership with LifeBot and Dr. Brian Scheele of Pacific Northwest Surgical Outreach (PNSO) for the June 2015 inaugural deployment of this device to Belen, Peru, where the LifeBot 5 will support a team of PNSO doctors performing surgical outreach in resource limited communities in the Amazon region. The LifeBot 5 will serve as a link to remote surgical support at the University of Miami (FL) and as an intraoperative anesthesia monitor while in Peru, and IMM will use data collected by the LifeBot 5 to plan and support future missions with the LifeBot 5 and other innovative medical technologies.

Lastly, the IMM was utilized in Haiti conducting much needed primary care and disease screening for individuals living in the remote regions of the country.