Micellaneous Informantion

Costs

All costs will be covered by the department of surgery. These include:

Vaccinations and medications

Airfare and local transportation.

Food, accommodation, laundry:

You will pay for all your daily expenses with cash, and you will be reimbursed by the department on return.

Take receipts for all your expenses.

12,500 pesos / month to stay at Dr. Cuduco’s house (includes internet 2500 pesos/month)

Example of Prices:

Coca Cola 20 oz: 32 pesos

Water bottle: 10 pesos

Phone cards: 50 to 300 pesos

Travel to and from the D.R.

American airlines and Continental have direct flights between New York to Santo Domingo several times a day. The flight is about 4 hours, cost is about $400.

American Airlines has an 80 pound weight limit per check-in bag (2 check in bag max), one personal item, and one carry on (under 40 lbs).  NO cardboard boxes allowed for check-in.

On arrival at the airport in Santo Domingo, you must pay a $10 US dollar tourist card. 

To get to San Cristobal from the airport, either Dr. Cuduco or a taxi driver with a sign with your name will be awaiting at the exit. You can pay the taxi driver in dollars - the price is $30.  Before going to the DR, email Dr. Cuduco a picture of yourself along with your itinerary so he knows who to look for.

Passport:

You will need a valid passport to enter and exit the Dominican Republic. Make sure your expiration date is at least 2 months away, and they you have enough pages empty for stamping.  Prior to your departure, you should make a couple photocopies of your passport, and carry them separately from your passport.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In the event that your passport is lost or stolen, first report the theft to the local police in order to get a police report, and then come in person to the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the Consular Section.

Passport applications are received from 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays except on holidays.

Visa:

No visa is needed for American citizens, however you must purchase a tourist card for $10 on arrival. Make sure you keep the stub of the tourist card, as you will be asked for it on your way out!

Registration:

The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo recommends you register with the embassy before traveling. When an emergency happens, or if natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest strikes during your stay, the U.S. embassy can be your source of assistance and information. By registering your trip, you help the embassy locate you when you might need them the most.

Registration site: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/

Communication:

1.  Cellular telephone

a.       # 1-809-465-0780

b.      You have to purchase telephone cards to use the phone.  It’s very easy to transfer money onto the phone.  You buy the card (there will be a prepaid card ready for you when you pick up the cellphone), press 311 and then enter a secret # that appears on each card.  Once you’ve entered the “secret number”, you can just hang up, and then use the phone like you normally would.  Once you run out of money on the phone, you’ll hear a lady say something in Spanish like, “you have two minutes left on your card.” Then you have to buy a new card and enter the number.

c.       The cell phone is expensive for outgoing calls, and free for incoming calls.  The Skype internet system is much more reasonable.

d.       On the cell phone you will see a series of numbers for contacts.  Cuduco is on there (home/cell) as well as many of the docs you will be working with, as well as our favorite taxi drivers (Vidal and Elvis) and Taxi San Cristobal. 

2.       Skype 

a.       # 347-284-6334  

b.       Speak to one of us for instructions on how to use Skype before leaving.

c.       We have set up an account with a NY number, so friends and family can call you as if making a local NY call.

d.       We have transferred $10 worth of phone calls onto the system.  I am not sure how much remains, but the outgoing calls are 2cents/minute (pretty good rate!)  

Verizon Dominican Republic 809-220-1111 

http://www.verizon.net.do

Safety and Security

San Cristobal is considered a safe town, however certain measures must be exercised to avoid unnecessary harm:

• Dress casually and avoid wearing conspicuous jewelry or carrying expensive items (laptop).
• Always use common sense when walking around town.
• Do not walk around town by yourself after dark.
• Do not carry a large amount of money on you.
• Be aware of your surroundings while walking the streets.
• Avoid dense street crowds and demonstrations.
• We recommend that you do not rent a car. If you are in a private car and get stopped for a traffic violation, the driver should request a traffic ticket rather than paying an on-the-spot fine. In general, drivers should keep their doors locked and windows closed at all times.

In dealing with local police, U.S. citizens should be aware that the standard of professionalism might vary. Police attempts to solicit bribes have been reported. If you are the victim of a crime, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.

Hurricanes

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. The last hurricanes that struck the DR were in 1979, and H urricane Georges in 1998. If a hurricane is forecast when you are there, it is best to leave the island. If for some reason this is impossible, head toward the mountains to keep away from the sea. Under no circumstances do you want to be within a kilometer of the beach.  The national hurricane center web site: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

• WATCH: Hurricane conditions are possible in the specified area of the WATCH, usually within 36 hours.
• WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in the specified area of the WARNING, usually within 24 hours.

What to bring

• Digital Camera - you will need to furnish your own
• Passport
• Jump drive / Flash stick / USB port key
• Flashlight
• Money belt
• Clothing: casual business attire for the hospital, beach wear, and don’t forget your tight and shinies for the clubs in Santo Domingo.  Temperatures are warm (70-90 degrees daytime, 60-70’s at night)
• Credit/ ATM card
• Dollars for emergency
• Swimsuit, sandles
• Lab coats
• Stethoscope
• Rain coat
• Books – Cameron, Sabiston there already; bring anatomy/procedure atlases, novels to read, bring Spanish lessons/workbooks for practice.
• Extra non sterile gloves for dressing changes and to have in your pocket
• Anti-bacterial gel for your pocket when you are on the floor and there is no water
• Sun tan lotion
• 1-2 boxes of your own sterile OR gloves if your hands are smaller than 7.5
• Surgical masks (we have 10 TB masks, several OR masks there, but the OR sometimes runs out)

·         Cloth surgical hats, several disposable hats 

·         Eye protection 

·         OR shoes/clogs 

·         Spanish dictionary

Things to do before coming to the DR:

·         Plane tickets

·         Email Cuduco your flight information and a picture of yourself 

·         Register with American Embassy  

·         Fax personalized liability to Erika Chaikin in Risk Management

·         Obtain letter of good standing from Celia  to bring with you here

·         Book your resort stay early

·         See Gumprecht for vaccinations and prescriptions for Levaquin, lomotil (HIV meds are all here, fridgerables are in the refridgerator in the call room) 

·         Email Carmine your bank account number in case of emergency money deposit

• Set up a Skype account at www.skype.com – inexpensive phone service via internet.
• Call your credit card company to let them know you will be in the Dominican republic so that they will take off any holds and you will be able to use your credit card without problems.

Responsibilities in the D.R.:

• Payment to Dr. Cuduco: 17,500 pesos, +1800 pesos if he drives to/from airport to pick you up, +cable fee of 50 pesos
• Email weekly OR stats to Jacqui

·         Operative Experience: Please keep your daily operative log on the laptop

·         Spanish lessons: With Dr. Cuduco on weekly basis

·         Evaluation forms already down here on the bookcase. Dr. Cuduco must complete your evaluation while you are here.  Please bring back with you your completed evaluation (he should seal it). 

Nice things to do:

• Pick up soda for family for meals
• Bottle of wine at supermarket when going to store
• Ice cream for family at night
• Coca Cola for OR nurses in afternoon

Business hours:

Banks: mon- fri 8am-4pm

Most businesses: mon-fri 8:30am-12:30pm, 2:30pm- 6:30pm

Government offices: mon-fri 7:30am-2:30pm

Hotels:

Hotel Lina: near Jose Yunen’s house in Santo Domingo.  Not in Zona Colonial but it has a pool, gym.  About $65/ night if you get it on the internet (otherwise $120).  There is a restaurant in the hotel that is good. 809-563-5000. 3 star

 Hotel Lina pool view

Sofitel

Very nice hotel in Zona Colonial.  It has a nice pool and the hotel is quite fancy. About $130/night on the internet.  Overlooks the Ozama river.  Good food, has a gym, and a pool table.  Nice restaurant.  4.5 star

 Sofitel Pool

Hamaica Hilton, Boca Chica

All Inclusive, 150/night, on the beach, has a pool, gym, tourist area, near the airport (10min)

809-523-4611

 Jamaica Hilton Beach

 Emergency contacts

American embassy

The American Citizens Services (ACS)

Head of ACS: Christopher Lamora

Assistant: Christian Olivero

Tel  (809) 731-4294, 731- 4348 Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

For after hours emergencies you may call (809) 221-2171, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Internet web site  http://www.usemb.gov.do/Consular/ACS/acs-e.htm

Email: oliverocg@state.gov

Office hours:  7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except U.S. and Dominican holidays.

The Consular Section is located in the “La Esperilla” section of the Santo Domingo city, on the corner of César Nicolás Penson Street and Máximo Gómez Avenue.

Passport Services: Mondays – Wednesdays - Fridays, 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m  

American Airlines in Santo Domingo 809-200-5151

Dr. Divino:

celia.divino@mountsinai.org

Service: 212-241-7646

Office: 212-241-6509

Yunen family - have helped us set up this program in the DR  

Jose Yunen:

Jyunen@montefiore.org

Dr. Rafael Cuduco

Divison Sub director, Hospital Juan Pablo Pina

Email: Cuduco_15@hotmail.com

Danny Silverberg

Air Med – in case of medical emergency

1800-356-2161

Carmine Novembre

carmine.novembre@mountsinai.org

212-241-5871

Luis Vicioso (son of General Surgery Attending)

809-399-2789

United Health Care

1-866-936-6007