By Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Case in Point Magazine and the Case Management Resource Guide

As news stories continue to pour in with updates on the devastation that is occurring in Haiti as a result of the recent earthquake, the realization sets in that this poor country needs not only immediate help but will need it for a long time. The United States and other countries are mobilizing efforts to assist and soon hundreds of medical professionals, the military and others will arrive to help the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

I received an email from my Facebook account where a fellow case manager, Ellen Fink-Samnick, asked me how the CM community can help.

Here are some ideas you can share with your team to help ourselves and the disadvantaged reap the benefits of the inner case manager in all of us:

1. Bring your team together to discuss a project your organization can achieve.
2. Connect with your local professional organizations, places of worship or volunteer organizations and work with them to begin to put a plan together to address the needs of the area.
3. If you have a Haitian community in your area, check to see what they are doing and join the effort.
4. If you are a member of the Medical Service Corp, contact your division and see what their efforts are regarding Haiti. I received an email from the State Emergency Responders and Volunteers of Florida (SERVFL) and they are looking for volunteers to go to Haiti right now. You do need to be registered and have some training, but that is ongoing. Click here to learn more.
5. Read about the resources compiled by NPR on how to help Haiti.
6. Anderson Cooper is reporting live from Haiti, and CNN has set up a site with information on how to help.
7. A number of charities and peacemaking organizations are accepting donations. Money is a key resource needed right now, so if you can, please give.
8. Many of the social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have set up sites for people outside Haiti to find relatives and friends and for people to share their thoughts and ideas.
9. If you have family or friends who lives in Haiti or know people who might need a way to contact their loved ones, the State Department has set up a number where people in U.S. and Canada can call Haiti with information or inquiries about U.S. citizens. The number is 888-407-4747.
10. Keep good thoughts and pray for the people in Haiti.

It is times like this that we all need to come together to help those in need. Let me know what you are doing by yourself, with your organization or in your community to lend a hand to those in Haiti. Thank you in advance for anything you can do.

Have a good week!