VCOM 2019 Annual Report

Dominican Republic Outreach T he VCOM-affiliated Verón Primary Care Clinic in the Dominican Republic provides regular care to approximately 200 patients a day while serving a local population that exceeds 60,000. The clinic was launched in 2006 and is a collaborative partnership between VCOM, the Punta Cana Foundation and the government of the Dominican Republic.

seen an increased volume of patients. Within the year, future expansion will offer care in ophthalmology and to serve special-needs children. A newly established relationship with Akron Children’s hospital should greatly benefit the population served by the clinic. A collaborative partnership with the Appalachian School of Pharmacy provides the Verón Clinic with a full-time pharmacist and allows the clinic to serve as a site for six pharmacy students on international rotations. The Appalachian School of Pharmacy shares resources with the nearby hospital, continuing medical education with in country physicians and yearly first responder and Basic Disaster Life Support training for local emergency responders and resort employees.

The Verón Clinic, which operates year-round, offers primary care, emergency care, HIV/ AIDS detection and treatment, prenatal and women’s health care, ultrasound and laboratory services to the local community, many of whom are uninsured. The Verón Clinic provides experiences for 40 VCOM students annually, along with residents. A gift from the family of the late Oscar de la Renta in 2017 paved the way for the Punta Cana Foundation and VCOM to build a pediatric clinic in Verón. The Oscar de la Renta Pediatric Care Center, which opened in May 2017, serves more than 140 children per day, providing much- needed general, urgent and emergency care, as well as critical immunizations. Services including X-ray, ultrasound, dentistry and others make this clinic the new standard for the Dominican Republic, according to the Minister of Health. A newly implemented video conferencing system at the pediatric clinic will benefit research, education, clinical services and program development areas.

Two new clinical directors have been appointed for the Verón

Clinic and the Pediatric Care Center, which has

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