1. What are the greatest healthcare needs, as stated by the partner Prebyterian church, in that community?

Note: Partners want the same things we want for ourselves and our children — consider prioritized need and the security gained from each prior step: (source William Sager, MD, Mission Personnel)

• First: Emergency medical care for acute, serious injuries and diseases! Stop the bleeding: Do something now in response to our acute health crisis.
• Second: Assurance of access to adequate maternal-infant health care-community level.
• Third: Protection and nurture children under five as this ensures the future care of the elderly.
• Forth: Developing community and public health facilities and services.
• Fifth: Obtain sufficient security to achieve all prior steps to afford the risk of family planning.

2. What are the cultural beliefs surrounding health and disease, in that community?

3. Does the country have a healthcare system/ (World Health Organization, is place to search for this information.) If so, how does the Presbyterian church/clinic/hospital function within that system?

4. What are the legal requirements to practice medicine/nursing/physical therapy, etc.?

5. Who holds the liability for the medical mission team's activities? (Is it possible for volunteers to work under the supervision of a licensed physician in that country, shifting the medical liability to the physician?)

6. Does the professional's liability insurance in the U.S. also cover work done in other countries?

7. Is training an appropriate service for this trip?

• Was training identified by the partner church in that community?
• Based on knowledge of the maternal/child health, incidence of diseases of poverty, etc. would training in hygiene, general health practices, child health, etc. be helpful?
• How will the team structure the training to make it culturally appropriate?

8. Are direct services appropriate?

• Is the technology of this community available for the most common health problems and emergencies adequate, appropriate and reliably durable? If not, how can we help?
• What services are available for referring patients?
• Follow-up
• Long-term care
• Does providing free health services, for a short period of time, undermine the long-term health systems that must charge for services?
• Will the visit by the volunteer(s) improve, worsen or have little effect on the current need(s)?

9. What are the ethics of providing the planned medical services? For example, if the team takes a supply of antibiotics, administers them and then leaves without the community having followup, is this ethical?

10. Is it ethical to perform testing (assuming there is a laboratory), if there is o local treatment?