{"id":53,"date":"2019-06-06T07:30:47","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T07:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/75.103.66.177\/?page_id=53"},"modified":"2021-11-12T15:53:16","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T15:53:16","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heartcareintl.org\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n \r\n <\/i><\/span>\r\n <\/i><\/span>\r\n <\/span>\r\n What is Heart Care International\u2019s history?<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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In 1994, Dr. Robert Michler, founded Heart Care International by bringing together a small volunteer team of medical professionals from New York City to travel to Guatemala and administer life-saving pediatric surgery for 25 Guatemalan children. \u00a0This experience solidified Heart Care International\u2019s commitment to Guatemala and the need to provide continuing education and training the local nurses and doctors. The outcome resulted in a long-term partnership between Heart Care International and the local medical community in Guatemala. The new goal was to provide not only medical and surgical procedures for local children, but to build a self-sufficient, independent pediatric cardiac program through training and education.<\/p>\n

After working for several years as Surgeon in Chief for Children\u2019s Hospital in Boston, Dr. Aldo Casta\u00f1eda, came to work in Guatemala. Building on Heart Care International's experience and using his local influence and international reputation, Dr. Casta\u00f1eda established a permanent pediatric heart center in Guatemala City.<\/p>\n

In 2000, following the extraordinary transition to a more permanent program in Guatemala, Heart Care International transitioned its efforts to the Dominican Republic. HCI partnered with Heart Care Dominicana - a local non-profit created to benefit Dominican cardiac patients. In 2007, with the support of Heart Care International and the consortium created by the International Hospital for Children, Heart Care Dominicana successfully opened the doors of the first independent pediatric cardiac care program in the Dominican Republic, CEDIMAT. Currently Heart Care International maintains a close connection with CEDIMAT and the David Ortiz Children\u2019s Fund, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide essential support for children in the Dominican Republic who cannot afford the critical cardiac care they need.<\/p>\n

In 2005, Heart Care International entered its third commitment in El Salvador. Using the experiences in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, Heart Care International partnered with Sana mi Coraz\u00f3n, an El Salvadorian non-profit organization; with the Benjamin Bloom National Children\u2019s Hospital in San Salvador, the only public children\u2019s hospital in the country; and with the Diagn\u00f3stico Hospital, a private hospital with catheterization lab facilities.<\/p>\n

In 2011, Heart Care International entered a new commitment in Peru by partnering with the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Ni\u00f1o (INSN). Raising the level and quality of the hospital\u2019s diagnostic and surgical care for pediatric heart disease was the established goal. This goal continues to be developed through annual missions and continuing education and training between trips.<\/p>\n

Mexico became the next location for Heart Care International to establish a partnership. Welcomed by directors of the Hospital Especialidades Pedi\u00e1tricas (HEP) de Tuxtla-Guti\u00e9rrez and Hospital Meterno Infantil de Comitan, HCI launched the 5-year minimum partnership in 2015, championed year-round by the local non-profit organization, Todo por el Corazon de un Ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

Before the pandemic, Heart Care International began initial talks with a new host country. HCI remains committed to developing and maintaining current and new relationships with host hospitals in developing countries who are willing to commit what is needed to build self-sufficient pediatric cardiac care programs.<\/p>\n

During and since the pandemic, Heart Care International has actively increased its educational offerings and patient care through tele-conferencing.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n

\r\n \r\n <\/i><\/span>\r\n <\/i><\/span>\r\n <\/span>\r\n How is Heart Care International funded?<\/span>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Heart Care International is a privately funded, non-sectarian, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The backbone of our financial support comes from a variety of sources:<\/p>\n