Training

Hands-on-work

Heart Care International believes that through education and hands-on training, we can help build pediatric cardiac care units in developing countries. We also believe that the medical training has to be custom-made to the needs and interests of the host country medical team. We are successful when we can work collaboratively and respectfully with HCI’s host hospital medical teams.

For Heart Care International’s first 25 years, our main focus was education and training through medical missions, working closely with the local medical professionals who care year-round for the patients.

During each trip HCI also offered various educational presentations of particular interest to the hospital, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. Heart Care International is very fortunate to have among its members, medical professionals who, in addition to traveling with us, develop educational programs, curriculums and presentations that they share during our trips.

Tele-Conferencing

When travel isn’t possible, HCI’s virtual health care system allows us to continue our education and training. Through doctor-to-doctor tele-conferences, patient cases can be reviewed in real-time between in-country medical professionals and HCI team members, generating suggestions and collegial brainstorming opportunities for the local teams.

Handbook For Parents and Families

Heart Care International’s Logistics Director and ICU Nursing Team Captain, Betsy Tirado RN, created a Parent/Family Handbook which is distributed to all families with children undergoing heart procedures on each mission. This guide offers important information about congenital heart defects (CHD, detailed explanations of CHD medical terminology, and what to expect during recovery once home.

View the Spanish version of the Parent Handbook.

View the English version of the Parent Handbook.