Information for Parents and Families
Dear Parents and Families. On behalf of the executive board, thank you for your support to our organization and to your family member traveling with us abroad. With an extensive operation such as ours, we aim to alleviate any concerns you may have. Our frequently asked questions tab addresses many questions we have received over the past several years as a Wayne State Chapter. If you have any lingering questions always feel free to contact us directly at [email protected].
A few things you should know before reading further:
There is virtually no internet or cellular access in our host country unless an international cellular plan is purchased by the student prior to departure. Only the coordinators have constant cellular access between each other and Global Brigades International headquarters. Upon arriving to our host country, parents and guardians will receive an email from our coordinator stating their student volunteer has arrived safely. Please note an email will only be sent to a parent or guardian if the student volunteering inputs one during registration on Empowered.
The Wayne State University Chapter of Global Brigades will be notified of lodging location no earlier than two weeks prior to departure. This delay helps Global Brigades strategically place universities in communities based on need. Since Global Brigades constantly has universities from around the world working in each host country, it is possible your student volunteer may be residing in the same compound as another university.
Safety and Security Details:
The Global Brigades website contains an excellent section regarding their security measures to ensure brigade safety. We suggest you click the link below to visit their website and read each detail completely to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.
A few things you should know before reading further:
There is virtually no internet or cellular access in our host country unless an international cellular plan is purchased by the student prior to departure. Only the coordinators have constant cellular access between each other and Global Brigades International headquarters. Upon arriving to our host country, parents and guardians will receive an email from our coordinator stating their student volunteer has arrived safely. Please note an email will only be sent to a parent or guardian if the student volunteering inputs one during registration on Empowered.
The Wayne State University Chapter of Global Brigades will be notified of lodging location no earlier than two weeks prior to departure. This delay helps Global Brigades strategically place universities in communities based on need. Since Global Brigades constantly has universities from around the world working in each host country, it is possible your student volunteer may be residing in the same compound as another university.
Safety and Security Details:
The Global Brigades website contains an excellent section regarding their security measures to ensure brigade safety. We suggest you click the link below to visit their website and read each detail completely to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.
HIPAA and Ethical Policies
As undergraduate students without proper medical knowledge or training we are classified as volunteers and volunteers only. Volunteers are not considered healthcare providers unless they posses a medical/pharmaceutical/dental degree from an accredited institution and the volunteer's credentials have been validated through Global Brigades as a practitioner (Paramedic, EMT and Lay Responder are not considered licensed medical practitioners on brigade site).
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a policy which protects personal medical identifiers for individuals from public display and disclosure. As a volunteer you must abide by this policy in our brigade location as you would here in the United States. This means do not discuss any patient information with anyone other than the attending physician and do not photograph patients without their explicit permission (this applies to single and group photos).
Ethics
As a volunteer you may not direct a patient's diagnosis, treatment or perform any procedures other than vital signs at triage. A hands on approach should be left solely to the attending physician or nurse practitioner. If an attending physician or nurse practitioner feels comfortable he or she may show you the steps of a head-to-toe examination and proper use of equipment such as an otoscope or ophthalmoscope in practice. It is ok for students to observe the tympanic membrane for example to become familiar with the abnormalities. Anything else is outside the scope of volunteer capabilities and as such must be left to the medical provider with exception to blood pressure and taking a patient history.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a policy which protects personal medical identifiers for individuals from public display and disclosure. As a volunteer you must abide by this policy in our brigade location as you would here in the United States. This means do not discuss any patient information with anyone other than the attending physician and do not photograph patients without their explicit permission (this applies to single and group photos).
Ethics
As a volunteer you may not direct a patient's diagnosis, treatment or perform any procedures other than vital signs at triage. A hands on approach should be left solely to the attending physician or nurse practitioner. If an attending physician or nurse practitioner feels comfortable he or she may show you the steps of a head-to-toe examination and proper use of equipment such as an otoscope or ophthalmoscope in practice. It is ok for students to observe the tympanic membrane for example to become familiar with the abnormalities. Anything else is outside the scope of volunteer capabilities and as such must be left to the medical provider with exception to blood pressure and taking a patient history.