Organizing Humanitarian Cochlear Implant Missions: "Green Cochlea" Guide

Objective: This paper aims to provide a step-by-step guide for organizing humanitarian cochlear implant missions (HCIMs). Methods: A panel of experienced professionals collaborated through informal, focused group discussions to create this comprehensive guide for organizing HCIMs. It includes a flowchart, a checklist, and detailed descriptions of each step, offering a clear and structured framework for the process. Subsequently, additional advisors were invited to evaluate this outline and provide their input. Results: All participants approved the final version after the outline was improved. This guide proposes the following eight steps: (1) aim and funding, (2) project study, (3) preparation, (4) local system setup (local team recruitment and patient recruitment), (5) pilot campaign, (6) full-scale campaign, (7) On-site process, and (8) follow-up. Thirteen items are specified across the eight main steps in a detailed checklist. All participants approved the final version after the outline was improved. Conclusion: The proposed good practice guide (GPG) includes a flowchart and a checklist that provides a comprehensive manual for establishing, conducting, and organizing international HCIMs. Understanding the process that is expected to be followed when planning an international HCIMs enables the involved parties to organize and assign tasks and create a schedule that allows them to finish their tasks on time and with the best quality. This guide could be a basis to describe an organized process, resulting in professional and distinguished campaigns.