Our vein program has more than 20 years of experience in assisting patients with venous disease and leg ulcers. The program has become one of the largest vein care service-learning trips in Honduras and Mexico that assists these underserved regions. We provide evidence based treatments for chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulcers.

 

Thanks to generous donations, we are able to offer the most up to date treatment options, enabling us to assist over 1500 patients during our 1-week mission trip in Honduras and on a slightly smaller scale in Mexico where we treat over 300 patients.  Most of our experts come from the United States but over the years we have had expert doctors, RVTs, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants from all over the world. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine sponsored the phlebology courses and today it is a renowned Phlebology hands on course with CME credits.  

 

Our medical mission trip starts in San Pedro Sula, the second largest city in Honduras. We connect with the team at the international airport in San Pedro Sula and travel to La Ceiba where we stay a few days for lectures and team activities. New participants begin the experience with an early morning 2-hour hike up Pico Bonito mountain for a refreshing river swim, lunch, followed by a half-day of lectures at the Lodge. Experts teach on topics including physiology of venous disease, compression therapy, wound care, foam sclerotherapy, mechanical occlusion catheter ablation, and ultrasound overview. The day also includes important safety information and demonstrations of treatment techniques. Lectures are approved by the University of Wisconsin and are category 1 CMEs.  

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The group is divided into three clinic sites: La Ceiba, Olancito and Tela. We work together to create temporary vein clinics from the Red Cross building in La Ceiba, a cultural center in Olanchito and a church in Tela. Patients are triaged, leg ulcers are assisted first, then severe varicose veins. The teams work expeditiously to treat every patient that attends our clinics. We are proud to see how our help has improved the quality of life of the population of Honduras. It is rewarding to meet patients every year with healed ulcers from our previous treatments.  The experience is amazing, unique and full of rewarding results.  You come back home every year exhausted but with the best feeling of joy and happiness after seeing your patient's outcome, receiving their gratitude, and the experience of working in a dedicated team, making lifetime friendships and above all participating in a life changing experience.

 

Thanks to an amazing team the foundation recruited in Wisconsin, we receive donations and supplies throughout the year from all around the world.  Some of the most important donations have been polidocanol, catheters for non-thermal non tumescent venous ablations and stockings. Donations are stored in one of the HHPF board member's warehouse (Chet Hermansen) in Wisconsin throughout the year and are shipped in a container (also donated) to Honduras in February. HHPF participants work together with the local community and Honduran Red Cross to unload the supplies in preparation for the service learning trips.