San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua VOSH MISSION PROTOCOL 2003 - 2004 1. All VOSH-Connecticut mission members must be permanent residents or citizens of the United States of America or Canada unless granted prior authorization and consent of the Clinic Directors. Non-U.S. Citizens may be allowed to participate in VOSH-Connecticut missions at their own risk of entry/re-entry to the United States. 2. VOSH-Connecticut missions are limited to fully licensed and accredited Optometrists, Optometry students of licensed and accredited Optometry Schools, licensed and accredited opticians and optometric assistants, and helpers and translators. No other individuals shall be allowed to participate in any VOSH-Connecticut missions without the express prior authorization and consent of the Clinic Directors. 3. All VOSH-Connecticut mission members must be a minimum of age 18, unless accompanied by a mission member parent and with prior approval of the Clinic Directors. No mission members under age 18 shall be allowed unless a parent has participated in a prior VOSH-Connecticut mission without the express prior authorization and consent of the Clinic Directors. 4. All VOSH-Connecticut mission members must sign a Legal Release prior to participation in a mission. Fax or e-mail signatures shall constitute a valid signature for release purposes. A legal release for a mission member who is a minor shall be signed by their accompanying parent only. 5. First preference for future missions and clinic assignments shall be given to previous returning VOSH-Connecticut mission members. Thereafter, mission vacancies shall be filled on a first come basis until mission capacity is reached, after which a waiting list shall be established for current and future missions. 6. All mission members shall be assigned a duty station. 7. General Clinic Assignments shall include: 5-7 O.D.'s 10-18 Optometry students, with preference given to 2nd and 3rd year students, and Spanish speaking students. No more than 8 students shall be 1st year Optometry students. 3 Pre-testing Assistants 8 Translators 6-10 Security Assistants 1-3 Opticians 1 El Capitan 6-10 Dispensary Assistants 8. VOSH-Connecticut members shall be courteous and respectful to other mission members and the host Community at all times. 9. No mission member shall leave his or her duty station for any extended period of time without the consent of the Clinic Directors. 10. Clinic Hours are 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. All mission members are expected to be at the clinic by 7:45 a.m. for the morning greeting and stay until all patients are seen each day. No mission member may leave the clinic site at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. without the prior authorization and consent of the Clinic Directors. 11. Clinic will close promptly each day from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Lunch will be served from 1:00-1:30 p.m., and mission members will meet daily as a group from 1:30-2:00 p.m. All mission members shall be present daily for both the lunch and the meeting, and shall close up the clinic as soon as instructed to do so. 12. No alcohol shall be consumed on the clinic premises until all patients are seen for the day. 13. Non-mission members may participate in the clinic breakfast and lunch for $3.00 per day per person, and the closing banquet for $10.00 per person, payable in advance at the start of clinic week. 14. All mission members shall be required to wear their VOSH badges at all times during clinic hours and mission activities. 15. All mission members shall be responsible for their own security, safety and personal items, instruments, tools and materials. All security personnel will wear their security identification hats at all times during clinic hours. 16. No smoking shall be allowed on the clinic premises. 17. No knives, weapons, drugs or illegal substances shall be allowed on the clinic premises. 18. All mission members shall follow the instructions of the Clinic Directors at all times. 19. No candy, food, toys or personal items shall be given out at the clinic except by individual mission members at their personal individual stations. 20. No patients or other individuals are allowed in any clinic or examination room except those authorized to be specifically seen by the doctors. 21. NO ONE is allowed in the dispensary except the doctors, opticians and dispensary personnel. 22. No crowding, pushing or shoving is allowed in any clinic areas. Mission members shall assist as needed in crowd organization and control, and shall also assist as requested in maintaining order and organized lines. All patient areas are limited to patients and immediate family members only. 23. All sunglasses shall be dispensed by the doctors ONLY. No sunglasses shall be dispensed by any one at any time without a written examination slip. Only 1 pair of sunglasses shall be dispensed per patient. NO EXCEPTIONS. 24. All patients MUST have an examination slip before being seen by the doctors. All patients MUST have an examination slip before receiving a pair of sunglasses. 25. Doctors must complete, sign and date an examination slip for each patient. 26. There will be a $30.00 fee per person for all participating mission members. This fee shall be payable in advance to VOSH-CT prior to or at the start of the mission. Failure to pay this fee in full prior to or at the start of the mission will result in non-participation of the mission. Included in this fee will be breakfast and lunch during clinic days and the closing banquet and a VOSH-CT t-shirt. Airport transportation shall be provided at a cost of $30.00 per person round-trip, or $15.00 one-way, payable in full prior to or at the time of arrival in Nicaragua. There will be only 1 bus down and 1 bus back-No Refunds. Alternative transportation arrangements are the responsibility of individual mission members at their own cost and arrangements and at no obligation or cost to VOSH-Connecticut. Cost of accomodations are the responsibility of the individual mission members. Accomodation arrangements can be made through VOSH-CT. 27. All mission members shall attend the closing banquet. Gifts for the host community leaders are fine. 28. Mission members are invited to participate in a monetary collection to be presented to our host community leaders at the conclusion of the mission. 29. The sailing trip shall be $25.00 per person for Optometry students only and $50.00 per person for everyone else. All mission and non-mission members may participate. 30. VOSH-Connecticut appreciates and welcomes donations at any time. |