Patient Selection, Hospitals, & Cost
Patient Selection
Rotary clubs are presently located in 166 countries, worldwide. There are almost 31,603 Rotary clubs with a membership in excess of 1.2 million in 529 Districts. There are approximately 40 other Gift of Life programs throughout the world. District 7090’s program is unique for it is truly an international program, Canada & the United States.
The network of Rotary clubs worldwide provides us with our potential patients. Through this network, medical records of children requiring life saving open-heart surgery are submitted to us for review by the medical teams at the Women& children’s Hospital of buffalo or the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The medical team determines if the child has an operable condition. If the decision is favorable, arrangements are made with the sponsoring Rotary Club and the medical team in the child’s native country to bring to Canada or the United States for Surgery.
Information Required for Patient Consideration
In order for a determination to be made requiring the child’s required treatment, the following information should be provided to The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 when recommending a child for life saving open-heart surgery:
1. Name and age of child (photo if available)
2. Complete, legible copy of child’s medical record including inoculation record
3. X-Rays (if available)
4. Echo-cardiogram (if available)
5. Cauterization (if available)
6. HIV and TB negative test certification
7. Latest Electro-cardiogram
The more information that is furnished regarding the child’s condition, the more informed the decision that can be made by the medical team.
Participating Hospitals
The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 is fortunate in having a cooperative agreement with Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo NY and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Canada.
While in Canada or the United States, the child and the parent or guardian-escort are housed with a host family or at the Ronald McDonald House when not actually at the hospital. While at the hospital, the parent or guardian-escort can stay with the child at the hospital. The length of stay is normally 4 to 6 week for surgery and postoperative follow up.
When the child returns to their own country, information is provided to the child’s physician with recommended follow-up treatment and medication. It is highly recommended that the sponsoring rotary Club in the child’s country continue to follow up to insure that the child continues in good health and is able to receive the proper medical treatment and medication
Coordinating Physician
Daniel Pieroni, M.D. Pediatric Cardiology Associates of Western NY
Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Liaison
William “Todd” Jebb, Esq. Vicki Mahan, MD
The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Liaison
Kenneth M. Goodwin, M.D Kamla Sharma
Cost of Care
The surgeons and other medical staff provide their services to the program at no cost. The hospitals charge The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 minimal costs to cover disposables, medicines, etc. The additional expenses of the accompanying parent, or guardian-escort, and post-operative medication, while in Canada or the USA are paid for by the Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090
In most cases, we require the Rotary Club in the country form which the child is coming to pick up the cost of air transportation to and from Canada or the USA. If the Rotary Club in the sponsoring country cannot pay these costs, The Gift of Life, Inc. of District 7090 may considering covering them.
Rotary clubs are presently located in 166 countries, worldwide. There are almost 31,603 Rotary clubs with a membership in excess of 1.2 million in 529 Districts. There are approximately 40 other Gift of Life programs throughout the world. District 7090’s program is unique for it is truly an international program, Canada & the United States.
The network of Rotary clubs worldwide provides us with our potential patients. Through this network, medical records of children requiring life saving open-heart surgery are submitted to us for review by the medical teams at the Women& children’s Hospital of buffalo or the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The medical team determines if the child has an operable condition. If the decision is favorable, arrangements are made with the sponsoring Rotary Club and the medical team in the child’s native country to bring to Canada or the United States for Surgery.
Information Required for Patient Consideration
In order for a determination to be made requiring the child’s required treatment, the following information should be provided to The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 when recommending a child for life saving open-heart surgery:
1. Name and age of child (photo if available)
2. Complete, legible copy of child’s medical record including inoculation record
3. X-Rays (if available)
4. Echo-cardiogram (if available)
5. Cauterization (if available)
6. HIV and TB negative test certification
7. Latest Electro-cardiogram
The more information that is furnished regarding the child’s condition, the more informed the decision that can be made by the medical team.
Participating Hospitals
The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 is fortunate in having a cooperative agreement with Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo NY and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Canada.
While in Canada or the United States, the child and the parent or guardian-escort are housed with a host family or at the Ronald McDonald House when not actually at the hospital. While at the hospital, the parent or guardian-escort can stay with the child at the hospital. The length of stay is normally 4 to 6 week for surgery and postoperative follow up.
When the child returns to their own country, information is provided to the child’s physician with recommended follow-up treatment and medication. It is highly recommended that the sponsoring rotary Club in the child’s country continue to follow up to insure that the child continues in good health and is able to receive the proper medical treatment and medication
Coordinating Physician
Daniel Pieroni, M.D. Pediatric Cardiology Associates of Western NY
Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Liaison
William “Todd” Jebb, Esq. Vicki Mahan, MD
The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto Liaison
Kenneth M. Goodwin, M.D Kamla Sharma
Cost of Care
The surgeons and other medical staff provide their services to the program at no cost. The hospitals charge The Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090 minimal costs to cover disposables, medicines, etc. The additional expenses of the accompanying parent, or guardian-escort, and post-operative medication, while in Canada or the USA are paid for by the Gift of Life, Inc. of Rotary District 7090
In most cases, we require the Rotary Club in the country form which the child is coming to pick up the cost of air transportation to and from Canada or the USA. If the Rotary Club in the sponsoring country cannot pay these costs, The Gift of Life, Inc. of District 7090 may considering covering them.