Frequently Asked Questions - Church Teams

HealthCare Ministries has a Church Team Department that can assist the church team in many ways including resources, health education materials, training and consultation as needed. Contact the Church Team Department Coordinator at (417) 866-6311 or send an e-mail to churchteams [at] healthcareministries [dot] org

Yes. There is a registration process for all church teams going on a short-term mission trip. This includes signing an Assumption of Risk form and registering for international insurance. With the increased unrest in the world it is very important for every team to register with AGWM in case an unsafe situation arises in the country of the outreach.

Call Team Processing Assistant (417-862-1447 Ext. 2067) for more information.

Yes. The unreimbursed travel expenses (transportation, meals, lodging) incurred in performing the project are tax deductible. The value of his/her labor is not deductible.

Each medical professional will need to check with his/her malpractice insurance provider. However, generally malpractice insurance does not cover medical practice outside of the USA.

No.

The most significant long-term impact comes from sharing God's love through compassionate care and sharing the plan of salvation with every patient (not in sensitive countries). Medical professionals need to focus on health education esp. for chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) instead of prescribing a medication when no follow-up care medication supply is available.

Yes, definitely. Although medications can not be dispensed nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nurses can do physical assessments and health teaching for the identified problems. This is true for physical therapists, occupational therapists, etc. Health education should be a focus for all medical interventions.

Be sure to always have several phone numbers for contact in the country i.e. missionary's home, office, cell phone numbers, hotel phone number and national pastor's phone number. It is surprising but many people in foreign countries now have cell phones.

Every country is different and the missionary will need to check on the requirements. In some countries, the medical professionals' documents i.e. licenses, college transcripts are required prior to the teams arrival. Also, some countries will not allow medications to be brought in and the medications need to be purchased in country.

Start all of this process early!