USA refuse help from Cuban doctors.

[Towncrier]

In the past when the US has offered similar aid to Cuba, they have refused our help. Sounds like one big political game and the losers are the victims in both Cuba and the United States. Sheesh. Do you think government leaders will ever grow up? On both sides?

 

[N.Bailey]

Not to be picky, but there are highly qualified Cuban doctors who have been trained in America.

That is probably very true, but I would still prefer an American Doctor, unless of course they're going to come and put their credentials out for all to see. I just don't see that happening though.

 

[bsnyder]

In the past when the US has offered similar aid to Cuba, they have refused our help. Sounds like one big political game and the losers are the victims in both Cuba and the United States. Sheesh. Do you think government leaders will ever grow up? On both sides?

Towncrier, I agree there are political games played in this arena. But in this case, we really don't need the doctors, so why take the risk of the potential for an international incident? The Katrina victims aren't going to suffer from this decision.

 

[DawnCt1]

Exactly, there are plenty of US citizen doctors who have studied alongside them--and we are licensing them. Who's to say who was at the top or bottom of their class either for that matter. I guess because they are Cuban, in your mind they will jsut be lousy doctors.

And last I knew they were going to be "sent" by their government--while it's a possibility that some would claim asuylum, I hardly think the entire contingent would do so, and were coming for that reason.

Anne

We are licensing them AFTER they pass the FLEX. I have worked with enough to know that all FMG's are NOT created equal. Some do not speak English to safely get by in a hospital. The hospitals in NOLA have 500 available beds. DMAT has set up mobile hospitals throughout LA, Miss. and Ala. We frankly don't need them. I am sure Castro knew that when he offerred.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Didn't cuba refuse OUR help in a hurricane?

Not saying the refusal is justified or not...but I seem to recall a blatant--NO from Cuba within the past year or so when they got slammed with a hurricane. Anybody remember this?

 

[inaminute]

If we needed doctors and refused, that would be a bad thing. Luckily, we don't need doctors. There is no point in having 1,500 MORE people to worry about. It's going to be hard enough finding housing, food, water, etc. for the helpers we do need down there!

 

[ducklite]

We are licensing them AFTER they pass the FLEX. I have worked with enough to know that all FMG's are NOT created equal. Some do not speak English to safely get by in a hospital. The hospitals in NOLA have 500 available beds. DMAT has set up mobile hospitals throughout LA, Miss. and Ala. We frankly don't need them. I am sure Castro knew that when he offerred.

My point was that we have plenty of inner city hospitals in the US where their Spanish skills would be welcomed and well used, and frankly, Spanish IS the primary language in some of the US these days. In fact I'd highly suggest that you learn it, working in the medical field in CT, you'll probably need it sooner or later.

Anne

 

[DawnCt1]

My point was that we have plenty of inner city hospitals in the US where their Spanish skills would be welcomed and well used, and frankly, Spanish IS the primary language in some of the US these days. In fact I'd highly suggest that you learn it, working in the medical field in CT, you'll probably need it sooner or later.

Anne

Actually Ann, Hartford has a larger Puerto Rican population than San Juan, but thank you for concerning yourself with my language skills. Yo estudie espanol en escuela por seis anos, muchas gracias. Yo hablo espanol bastante bien.

 

[ducklite]

Actually Ann, Hartford has a larger Puerto Rican population than San Juan, but thank you for concerning yourself with my language skills. Yo estudie espanol en escuela por seis anos, muchas gracias. Yo hablo espanol bastante bien.

If you are working in a Hartford hospital, you are well aware of how critical doctors with Spanish language skills are. And yes, I did know that Hartford has a larger Spanish speaking population than San Juan, although there are other Hispanic groups in the area, it's not just Puerto Rican. There are lots of migrant farm workers from Mexico as well who work in the tobacco fields.

PS--I was born at St. Frances.

Anne

 

[DawnCt1]

Not to be picky, but there are highly qualified Cuban doctors who have been trained in America.

Actually one of my very good friends fled Cuba at the age of 13. He attended Medical School at the Universidad de Mexico and was an excellent surgeon, training in two major trauma centers in the United States; one in Detroit where they had a particularly active "knife and gun" club.

 

[DawnCt1]

If you are working in a Hartford hospital, you are well aware of how critical doctors with Spanish language skills are. And yes, I did know that Hartford has a larger Spanish speaking population than San Juan, although there are other Hispanic groups in the area, it's not just Puerto Rican. There are lots of migrant farm workers from Mexico as well who work in the tobacco fields.

Anne

Actually, we don't get a lot of migrant farm workers from Mexico working Tobacco. I don't recall seeing any. Most of the hispanics are Puerto Rican. The tobacco workers are primarily from Jamaica. I worked tobacco when I was 14 and 15. Its a "right of passage" in the Ct. Valley. I am not currently working in nursing by choice but I am very familiar with Hartford Hospital. Both of DH's secretaries are fluent in Spanish.

 

[DawnCt1]

PS--I was born at St. Frances.

Anne

I also missed that part. Actually its St. Francis and it has merged with Mt. Sinai. Now that's an interesting relationship.

 

[ducklite]

Actually, we don't get a lot of migrant farm workers from Mexico working Tobacco. I don't recall seeing any. Most of the hispanics are Puerto Rican. The tobacco workers are primarily from Jamaica. I worked tobacco when I was 14 and 15. Its a "right of passage" in the Ct. Valley. I am not currently working in nursing by choice but I am very familiar with Hartford Hospital. Both of DH's secretaries are fluent in Spanish.

I have friends who own a farm in the Windsor Locks area--they lease the land--and the workers who have harvested for the past three years are Mexican.

Anne

 

[DawnCt1]

I have friends who own a farm in the Windsor Locks area--they lease the land--and the workers who have harvested for the past three years are Mexican.

Anne

That would not be typical. Most of the farms in that area you mentioned, as well as my own employ Jamaicans.