1. Administrative Structure

• Board: 7 members elected by members at AGM for 2 year term, officers (president, vicepresident, secretary, treasurer) and 3 directors.
• Members: all those who have paid the annual membership fee of $25.00 and remain in good standing. Membership year Feb 1st - Jan 31st. All those traveling with the team (except children) must be paid up members of H4H.
• Chairperson of mission organizing committee appointed by the board for each mission and reports to the board
• Mission Organizing Committee – chosen by the chairperson and approved by the Board, may include board members. Not all members need to be traveling with the team.
• Mission Committee – Chairperson and 4 representatives (physicians, OR nurses, PACU nurses, support staff including non-medical team members) chosen by Board will make necessary administrative decisions during mission.
• Team Composition – Team will be limited to those that can be accommodated at the Quinta. Core team members will be chosen first (physicians, OR nurses, PACU nurses, support staff). One accompanying family member may be allowed as space allows. Board decisions will be final.

2. Application Procedure

• Initial contact, information exchange and interview by the Team Leader or designate from the Mission Organizing Committee
• Applicants for each mission will:
  • complete the website application form.
  • For 2010 ticking the on line agreement and submitting the application is considered equivalent to signing a waiver. Members can pay their H4H membership fee and mission deposit by credit card through PayPal OR by mailing a cheque ($525.00) to the address on the form.
• Physicians need to scan and email the following to nancyjane@hotmail.com 
  • Copy of current provincial registration.
  • CV in the case of new physicians (2 page maximum).
  • Copy of original MD and specialist diplomas in the case of new professionals.
• Nurses need to scan and email the following to nancyjane@hotmail.com 
  • Copy of current provincial registration
  • CV in the case of new application
• The following factors will be considered when choosing team members:
  • Appropriate skills and experience for the planned mission
  • Current registration with appropriate licensing body for professionals
  • Previous satisfactory service with Health for humanity
  • Previous satisfactory service with another volunteer organization
  • Satisfactory interview with Team Leader/Organizing Committee
  • Recommendation by a member in good standing of H4H
  • Suitable personal and work references
  • Satisfactory criminal records check (may be required for some missions)
  • Order of receipt of application
• Applications will be reviewed by the Mission Organizing Committee and recommendations made to the board.
• Final appointment by the Board.
• Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by the chairperson of the organizing committee or designate.

3. Agreement Form/personal safety waiver - The on line application now asks you to acknowledge that you have read and agree to the waiver. We may ask you to sign a hard copy as well. By this signature you confirm that:

• You have read and agree to H4H guiding principles and mission policies.
• You understand that Guatemala is a developing country and does not have the same standards of safety that we are used to in Canada and that while H4H will do everything possible to maintain the safety and well-being of team members while working with the team in Antigua, H4H cannot accept responsibility for the safety and well-being of team members.

4. Membership/Deposit - The $500 deposit will be returned to unsuccessful applicants. Once an application is accepted the trip deposit and membership fee become non-refundable.

5. Non-compliance - Team members are expected to respect the decisions of the Board and Mission Committee In exceptional circumstances the Board or the Mission Committee (during a mission) has the authority to request the resignation of a team member who does not comply with the policies or guiding principles. Any costs that might occur as a result of such resignation will be the responsibility of the individual.

6. Accommodation - While H4H will make every effort to accommodate rooming requests, because of the composition of the team and room availability, this may not always be possible.

7. Working arrangements – unless otherwise stated each two week mission will work for 10 days. It is our intention that our days will start at 07.30 and end by 17.30 (operating times 08.00 – 16.00). However this may not always be possible due to the variable nature of our work.

8. Off duty time – the middle weekend is free time. We will attempt to give all personnel one half day per week off duty but this depends on available staff and workload and will be at the discretion of the Mission Organizing Committee. Although every effort will be made to accommodate requests, this may not always be possible due to the working schedule.

9. Working with the local Professionals - From time to time, team members will be expected to work with the local staff. Surgeons and Anesthesiologists can expect to operate with local Surgeons and Anesthesiologists, and OR nurses will scrub and circulate with local nurses.

10. Slating - The Mission Organizing Committee will have final responsibility for slating, allocation of staff to OR rooms and coordination of time off.

11. Tax Receipts - Tax receipts can only be issued for monies over $20 which is paid directly to H4H, or for fair market value of donated items. Tax receipts can only be issued to those adult team members with an assigned position on the team

12. New guidelines for accompanying personnel - Because of concerns raised by the Obras Hospital and the increasing size of our teams we have had to add these guidelines. We request that on Triage Day (Sunday) and the first day of surgery (Monday) only the surgical team members and assigned support personnel come to the hospital.

13. New guidelines for volunteering at the Obras - The Obras will only allow volunteers aged 17 and over. In addition arrangement must be made 3 months in advance and require a firm commitment. Those wishing to volunteer at the Obras must be registered in advance with the Obras. Please check with Ray Mcfetridge who will give you information on how to contact the Volunteer Coordinator for the Obras Hospital.