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IMEC is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization registered in the USAID Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAID]. IMEC was officially recognized by USAID on 11/23/2001 and a report of financial activities is presented within the registry<sup>citation</sup>. IMEC receives its funding from corporate grants and private donations. |
IMEC is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization registered in the USAID Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAID]. IMEC was officially recognized by USAID on 11/23/2001 and a report of financial activities is presented within the registry<sup>citation</sup>. IMEC receives its funding from corporate grants and private donations. |
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==References== |
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http://imecamerica.org/ |
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==External Links== |
==External Links== |
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International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC)
International Medical Equipment Collaborative (IMEC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that provides medical equipment to doctors and nurses working hospitals and clinics in impoverished areas worldwide. IMEC is located in North Andover, Massachusetts where volunteers sort, repair, package and ship donated medical supplies and equipment to international medical personnel.[1] Through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations IMEC has been delivering medical supplies for 14 years. What IMEC is known for is providing medical supplies for specific services doctors wish to provide patients.
History
Founded in 1995, IMEC started in the garage of now IMEC's President, Thomas Keefe. A former hospital administrator, Tom Keefe collected surplus medical equipment caused by hospitals closing, downsizing and eliminating entire serivicescitation. With the help of humanitarian organizations, this acquired surplus was channeled to impoverished countries worldwide. Solely sustained by volunteers, IMEC has grown extensively over the years refurbishing medical equipment and shipping to worldwide.
The IMEC Process
IMEC operates under a 5-step plan: Assessment, Acquisition, Preparation, Packaging, and Shipping.
Assessment
The process begins when a shepherding group identifies a hospital in need and contacts IMEC to request service. IMEC’s assessment volunteers have many years of experience in working with hospitals in the developing world. IMEC and the sponsoring humanitarian organization work with hospital personnel to assess the hospital’s needs and to create a plan for its rejuvenation. The plan lists only the needed types of medical support — maternity, surgical, dental, eye care, etc. — and IMEC uses that plan to begin the process of equipment acquisition and preparation. Shepherding groups are often established humanitarian organizations, church groups, or in-country health system willing to support a project over a three to five year period.
Acquisition
The medical equipment and supplies that IMEC delivers come from a variety of sources. The majority of items donated to IMEC come from hospitals and medical equipment companies across the United States. Hospitals that are reorganizing often find themselves discarding fully functional medical devices that have been replaced with newer models. Medical equipment companies introducing new lines are left with unsold warehouse stock of discontinued devices. IMEC’s Acquisition Department offers its services to these companies and hospitals by taking their surplus equipment and bringing it to IMEC, where they put it in the hands of those who need it most. From time to time, a required piece of equipment is not available from donations, so it is purchased from the manufacturers. Often, these manufacturers generously offer this equipment at a discount, in order to aid IMEC's mission.
Preparation
IMEC collects the equipment and brings it to its 150,000 square foot workshop and distribution center in North Andover, MA, where volunteers clean it, make sure it’s fully functional, and organize it for suite assembly. Used equipment is repaired as needed by highly skilled technical volunteers, many of whom are retired electrical engineers or medical technicians. Linens and medical supplies are sorted and organized into packages designed by nurses and physicians for the requirements of each suite.
Packaging
IMEC's workshop volunteers organize the equipment and supplies into complete medical suites, packed onto pallets for shipment. For example, a labor and maternity suite includes all of the equipment and supplies necessary for a basic delivery room. Each suite is packed to fit onto pallets, taking one or two pallets per suite.
Shipping
Twenty pallets fit into a standard 40’ container, which allows IMEC to ship between sixteen and twenty suites in one container—enough to completely equip a clinic. Nine containers will carry enough equipment,furnishings and supplies to equip an entire hospital.
A Volunteer Based Organization
IMEC is entirely made up of volunteers supported by a small staff. Funded by donations from individuals as well as corporations, IMEC is able to sustain a heavy workload. Volunteers bring an accumulation of skills and knowledge, from the corporate service teams such as UPS to the retired medial professionals to the plain clothed individual, IMEC utilizes all the efforts to prepare a project for shipping. This generous donation of time, effort, and expertise allow IMEC to efficiently and effectively carry out all aspects of the project. Experienced volunteers perform in-country hospital assessments and acquire needed medical equipment. Any necessary repairs to the equipment are done by volunteers who bring skill sets that include sewing, electronics, or the simple willingness to clean the marks of previous use. Volunteers perform the final packaging and shipping, down to the last act of loading the pallets by forklift into shipping containers destined for impoverished hospitals worldwide.
IMEC Worldwide
Over the years IMEC has shipped many containers worldwide with numerous shepherding groups.
Africa
| Country | Shepherding Group | header 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chad | International Relief and Development (IRD) | row 1, cell 3 |
| Dominican Republic of Congo | Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) | row 2, cell 3 |
| Ghana | Kimiyo, LTD | |
| Kenya | Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) | |
| Zimbabwe | World Vision |
Americas
| Country | Shepherding Group | header 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) | row 1, cell 3 |
| Jamaica | Mustard Seed Communities | row 2, cell 3 |
| Dominican Republic | Organizacion Dominicana de Recursos InternacionalesCitation | |
| Nicaragua | Woodstock VT Rotary | |
| Peru | Greenwich Rotary |
Asia
| Country | Shepherding Group | header 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Iraq | IRD | row 1, cell 3 |
| Armenia | Knights of Vartan | row 2, cell 3 |
| Azerbaijan | IRDCitation | |
| Indonesia | IRDCitation | |
| Lebanon | Lebanon Growth Foundation | |
| Pakistan | Association of Pakistani Physicians New England | |
| Ukraine | IRD |
Registration and Funding in the United States
IMEC is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization registered in the USAID Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)[1]. IMEC was officially recognized by USAID on 11/23/2001 and a report of financial activities is presented within the registrycitation. IMEC receives its funding from corporate grants and private donations.
References