Ambitious Mission Planned for Flying Hospital

The Flying Hospital, Inc., a mercy medical facility aboard a modified Lockheed L-1011-50, will head to Hyderabad, India, next month in its most ambitious mission yet.

In a two-week period from November 7 to November 21, as many as 10,000 patients will receive surgery for a variety of ailments, all at no cost.

"In the past, we've treated an average of 6,500 patients over a two-week period," said Dr. Peter Nord, FHI's president and chief medical officer. "In addition to being our largest mission, this is the first time we will treat patients in India. We also plan to offer training and educational opportunities to the medical community so that our efforts continue long after the mission ends."

The Flying Hospital, which is exhibiting a model of the aircraft at Booth 1120 in the convention center, is the largest commercially available, fully equipped, self-contained, airborne hospital ever built. It includes four surgical stations, laparoscopic and arthroscopic surgery equipment, pre/post operative recovery areas, ear-nose-throat, dental treatment stations, pharmacy and training facility.

The service is a 501(c)(3) non-profit humanitarian organization funded through charitable donations. Since its inaugural mission to El Salvador in 1996, the Flying Hospital has traveled to countries including Panama, Ukraine, Kazakstan, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia. Volunteer staff have successfully treated more than 43,000 patients and performed more than 1,900 free surgical operations through partnerships with the medical community in the countries visited.

FHI's 170-member medical team (representing seven countries) includes volunteer medical professionals and support personnel.

"Although we will treat thousands of patients whose lives will be changed forever, sadly, we will merely scratch the surface of the tremendous need for medical care," Dr. Nord said.

Hyderabad's partnering hospital will pre-select patients, based on need, to receive medical care. At the same time, members of the Hyderabad medical community will have the opportunity to learn by studying how the crew onboard the aircraft perform their medical services.

"Sharing knowledge between partnering medical communities is an added benefit for the medical mission," Dr. Nord said. "The educational component allows us to share life-saving knowledge and techniques."

By Jim Street