Join Us on a Life-Changing Medical Mission Trip.
Nursing and Other Medical Teams Make All the Difference.
We work in rural areas and neighborhoods where few others go. Our trips may be the only health care these communities receive. We go to give, but what we get back is immeasurable.
FFP nursing and medical trips provide important benefits to those served and those serving! Many local people lack access to healthcare due to inability to pay for treatment and transportation. We bring teams to underserved communities several times a year to provide some continuity of care.
The experience is so powerful that many who first come as students on a trip, ask to return yearly as providers to continue their service.
Overall Purpose and Clinical Work
- Teams provide basic medical care and health education in communities with limited access to healthcare.
- Teams typically diagnose and treat acute illnesses and injuries, provide basic medicines for free for common conditions, offer selected lab tests (e.g., pregnancy, urinalysis), and preventive services such as multivitamins, prenatal vitamins, and medical education along with followup by FFP medical staff.
- Everyone in the community is eligible to receive care for free regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, socioeconomic status, creed, or any other factor. Priority is given to the sick.
- Local physicians partner with our team members to align care with local standards, support decision making, ensure a meaningful cross-cultural experience, facilitate referrals, and followup.
Daily Structure and Setting
- Typical teams run 2-4 full days of clinics in different communities. They are held in the largest community buildings, typically a church or school.
- Large rooms are organized into examination areas usually by hanging bed sheets. Desks and chairs are provided for the providers and chairs or benches for families and translators.
- Most trips also include a day of house to house visits. Patients are seen free of charge, in family groups of up to 5 people.
- Information on each patient is captured in a portable EMR system to facilitate care and follow-up by our staff. Training on this EMR is provided.
- Clinical days are busy and productive within the organized structure led by FFP staff, local partners and Dominican physicians.
- Translators for Spanish and Creole speaking patients are provided.
- The clinics are secured by an FFP hired security guard.
- A temporary pharmacy is set up with a variety of OTC and prescription medications including analgesics, antihistamines, and anti-infectives such as antibiotics, anti- fungals and anti-parasitics. All medicines are provided free of charge. Urinalysis and pregnancy testing are usually available.
Other Team Activities
- Teams may also offer health education in the local language during the clinics. Education is vital for wellness and teams, and can address managing chronic illness, such as hypertension and diabetes, the importance of taking medicine as prescribed, and nutrition, etc.
- Team members commonly collect soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other important materials to make health kits that are distributed to families in the clinics.
- A tour of a local hospital and/or a visit to an orphanage to provide activities for children can be part of the itinerary.
- A trip to see the natural beauty of the country, e.g., the beach, and/or a cultural visit to the Colonial Zone is usually included. There may be additional costs associated with these excursions.
Patients Treated
The number of patients seen by a group varies depending on the number of team members, Spanish speakers, number of clinic days and the location of the clinic site. Typical percentages are in the table below.
| Age | Percentage of Patients |
|---|---|
| Infant (age 0-2) | 3% |
| Child (age 2-5) | 16% |
| Older Children (age 6-12) | 21% |
| Adolescents (age 13-17) | 7% |
| Adults (age 18-50) | 34% |
| Seniors (age 51+) | 15% |
| Pregnant women | 2% |
| Breastfeeding mothers | 2% |
Types of Common Conditions Seen in the Clinics
The types of conditions commonly seen are listed in the table below. A presentation by the Medical Director on these common illnesses is provided virtually to each team prior to their arrival in country.
| Cardiovascular | Arrhythmia, Hypertension |
| Dental | Dental caries |
| Dermatologic | Abscess, Cellulitis, Contact dermatitis, Eczema, Impetigo, Lice, Onychomycosis, Scabies, Tinea Capitus, Tinea Corporis, Tinea Cruris, Tinea Pedis, Tinea Versicolor |
| Ears, Nose & Throat | Allergic Rhinitis, Bacterial Rhinitis, Otitis Externa, Otitis Media, Pharyngitis, Sinusitis, Thrush, Tonsilitis |
| Gastrointestinal | Constipation, Esophageal reflux, Gastroenteritis, Parasitic infection, Peptic Ulcer, Typhoid Fever |
| Genitourinary | Urinary Tract Infection |
| Gynecologic | Bacterial Vaginosis, Dysmenorrhea, Endometriosis, Vaginal Yeast Infection |
| Hematologic | Iron Deficiency Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Sickle Cell Trait |
| Musculoskeletal | Fracture, Hip Pain, Knee Pain, Low Back Pain, Osteoarthritis, Tendonitis |
| Neurological | Anxiety, Headache, Depression |
| Ophthalmologic | Conjunctivitis, Myopia, Pterygium |
| Other Diagnoses | Dehydration, Diabetes, Hernia, Hypothyroidism, Malnutrition Pregnancy, Viral Syndrome |
| Other Infectious Diseases | Dengue Fever |
| Respiratory | Asthma, Bronchitis, Gripe, Pneumonia, Upper Respiratory Infection |
Housing, Logistics, and Safety
- Trip fees include food, lodging in comfortable mission housing (typically bunk beds and shared rooms), transportation, payment of translators and Dominican physicians, purified water, fulltime English and Spanish-speaking staff, all medicines and lab tests used in the clinic, and security.
- Meals vary to include US and Dominican favorites. Rice, beans, fruit and chicken are the staples.
- Pretrip planning, and posttrip followup for patients are part of the FFP infrastructure, so teams arrive to
a prepared environment rather than creating clinics from scratch. - FFP Medical Director obtains Public Health permission for all clinics held and for all US providers serving.
Team Composition and Roles
- Teams commonly include nurses, nursing students, physicians, medical students, PAs, PA students and nonmedical volunteers.
- Most medical/nursing trips are university-led or organized by specific professional groups (e.g., ENA
nurses, Global Health clubs). Trips can also be arranged by health care providers not affiliated with a
specific school or formal organization. - Depending on their previous clinical experience, students on trips typically work in small groups with a
translator to perform a history and physical assessment. Students then review the case with the faculty and Dominican physician. Through this experience they learn about culture, local needs and receive valuable clinical experience. - Nonmedical participants assist with registration, logistics, pharmacy support, crowd flow, and children’s activities, making it possible for the medical staff to see hundreds of patients.
- A Dominican physician is in each consultation room as required by Public Health. All activity is supervised by FFP’s Medical Director.
- FFP provides bilingual staff and translators who stay with the team 24/7, bridging language and cultural
differences in the clinics and in the community.
Pretrip Preparation and Requirements
- Participants must complete an application that includes passport details, doctor’s information, health
insurance, emergency contacts, and agreement to FFP’s code of conduct. - FFP offers guidance on preparing for a mission trip, including understanding the mission’s purpose, fundraising, cultural sensitivity, dress code, and preparation for the types of patient diseases expected.
- FAQ’s, packing lists (medications, supplies, personal items), EMR training, and cultural considerations
will be provided before departure. - All licensed providers must provide a copy of their passport, license, diploma and a one-page CV.