Volunteers from ECRI Provide Crucial Medical Aid in Panama
In May 2025, a team of volunteers from ECRI Institute embarked on a mission to Bocas del Toro, Panama, to support Floating Doctors, a nonprofit organisation delivering essential medical, dental, and veterinary care to remote island and jungle communities.
The team, comprising staff from clinical, engineering, and operational backgrounds, worked tirelessly to set up clinics daily, transporting medical supplies, water, and equipment. Their roles during the week included patient triage, translation, assisting with ultrasound exams, and distributing medications.
Diaz, a Grant & Proposal Specialist at ECRI, served as a translator during the mission, finding the work deeply personal, connecting with patients in their own language and being a part of their community. Timothy Browne, National Solutions Sales Account Executive, noted the resilience of the families in the Bocas del Toro region despite their lack of resources. Theresa Maas, a nurse, expressed enjoyment in interacting with children during the mission.
The volunteers valued the international connections they made during the trip, working alongside clinicians from the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK. Dr. Marcus Schabacker, ECRI’s President and CEO, serves on the board of Floating Doctors, further strengthening the partnership between the two organisations.
ECRI's involvement with Floating Doctors extends beyond annual volunteer trips, with ECRI providing support to local villagers throughout the year. The team encountered serious health issues and logistical challenges, but they were struck by the dignity and strength of the individuals they were there to assist.
This partnership between ECRI and Floating Doctors likely combines ECRI’s expertise in healthcare technology and safety with Floating Doctors’ on-the-ground delivery of care to improve healthcare quality and access in remote Central American regions. The impact of such a partnership would typically include enhanced healthcare delivery by introducing evidence-based practices, improved patient safety, and possibly better resource management in challenging remote environments, thus addressing healthcare disparities in these underserved areas.
Floating Doctors accepts donations and supplies via an Amazon Wish List for those interested in supporting their work. More information about Floating Doctors and their mission can be found on their website. ECRI's May 2025 trip was the first of two planned for 2025, with a second team of volunteers returning in September.
In a recent case, ECRI leaders helped coordinate the treatment of an infant with a serious infection in the closest available facility. Ismael Cordero, a Senior Project Engineer, repaired medical equipment damaged by saltwater, making an immediate difference.
As the world continues to grapple with healthcare disparities, partnerships like this one between ECRI and Floating Doctors are a testament to the power of collaboration in improving access to quality healthcare for all.
- The team from ECRI Institute, working with Floating Doctors, supplies essential medical, dental, and veterinary care to remote communities by setting up clinics daily and transporting necessary equipment.
- Diaz, a translator from ECRI, found the work with Floating Doctors deeply personal, connecting with patients in their own language and being a part of their community.
- The volunteers, including staff from clinical, engineering, and operational backgrounds, encountered serious health issues and logistical challenges in Bocas del Toro, yet were struck by the dignity and strength of those they were there to assist.
- ECRI's partnership with Floating Doctors aims to improve healthcare quality and access in remote Central American regions by combining ECRI's expertise in healthcare technology and safety with Floating Doctors' on-the-ground delivery of care.
- Ismael Cordero, a Senior Project Engineer from ECRI, repaired medical equipment damaged by saltwater, making an immediate difference in treating a patient with a serious infection in the closest available facility.
- As the world faces healthcare disparities, collaborations like the one between ECRI and Floating Doctors demonstrate the power of working together to improve access to quality healthcare for all.
