Hurricane Katrina Information for Mississippi Hospitals

CDC posts 'Keep It With You' medical record for care during disasters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a “Keep It With You” personal medical information form for people who need care during disasters and similar situations. The form is not intended to replace hardcopy or electronic medical records, but as an interim communication tool “to assist individuals as they navigate a potentially complex system of temporary support, housing, and clinical services,” CDC notes. The agency suggests clinicians refine the form as necessary, and photocopy the document after an individual receives care to maintain a record of who was seen and what treatment was provided. The original form is intended to remain with the individual during the time they are displaced, and can serve as an interim summary when normal care can be resumed.

[ via AHA News ]

HHS approves medical care relief program for Texas; model for other states

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and CMS Administrator Mark McClellan on Sept. 15 announced a waiver program to reimburse Texas health care providers for care provided to Hurricane Katrina evacuees, saying that the template for the program will apply for other states as well. The program includes a special category of Medicaid eligibility for children and families who were evacuated, and an uncompensated care pool to pay for services for those not eligible for Medicaid or lacking health insurance.

Under the waiver, needed medical services will be delivered to children up to age 19 and their parents, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, low-income Medicare beneficiaries and those who need long-term care and meet certain income requirements. The evacuees will be asked to complete a simplified application form declaring their income and assets, if any. The program will last through Jan. 31, 2006.

Evacuees who receive services through the Texas Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance programs will not be charged any out-of-pocket costs under the program. They will receive the standard Texas Medicaid benefit package plus certain additional benefits, such as additional mental health coverage.

[ via AHA News ]

Hurricane Evacuee Medical Intake Form

AHRQ has provided an interim form that can be used for medical intake assessment and triage of evacuees entering a shelter facility or evacuation center. The form can be used to identify evacuees who may need additional medical evaluation and treatment. The first page contains registration information for use by facility, local and state authorities. The remaining pages can be used to anonymously report medical conditions among evacuees.

TheBody.com Examines Effects of Hurricane Katrina on HIV-Positive People, Services

TheBody.com has published several articles examining the impact of Hurricane Katrina on HIV-positive people, health care workers and HIV/AIDS-related services in the affected region. "The entire HIV/AIDS infrastructure -- AIDS organizations, clinical trial networks, clinics, food services, AIDS Drug Assistance Program services, etc. -- in New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast have been decimated," but "there are promising signs that the AIDS community has been thinking quickly and working behind the scenes to ensure that all HIV-positive survivors can obtain their meds and specialized care," according to TheBody.com. In addition, the site provides information on resources and medication for HIV-positive people displaced by the hurricane, volunteer information and first-person accounts.

HHS expedites grants for Katrina areas

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said the federal government would speed up the award of approximately $2.3 million in grants to establish 26 new health center sites in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The organizations had gone through a competitive application process to create new health centers and were originally scheduled to be awarded the grants in December. HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration manages the Consolidated Health Center program, which funds a national network of more than 3,700 clinics, including community health centers, migrant health centers, healthcare for homeless centers and public housing primary-care centers. The funds go to nine sites in Texas, five in Louisiana, four each in Florida and Oklahoma, two in Georgia, and one each in Mississippi and Tennessee.

[ via Cinda Becker, Modern Healthcare ]

Information for health care providers and cancer patients

National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health has a Web site with information for health care providers and cancer patients, including 1-800-4 CANCER, which can be used as an additional contact point for oncologists and cancer patients.

The Mississippi Hospital Association surveyed Mississippi facilities to see where cancer patients in our state can receive radiation and oncology treatments currently. The facilities and contact information are attached in the document below.

Download facility_contact_information_regional_cancer_centers.doc

GCMC to partially reopen

Gulf Coast Medical Center in Biloxi, shut down by Hurricane Katrina recently, reopened 50 beds today, with all patients placed on the north side of the hospital because the south side had windows blown out. (GCMC is a 189-bed hospital.)

The hospital's emergency room reopened Tuesday of this week, and radiology, lab services and limited cardiac diagnostic services are available. When a sufficient supply of clean water is available, the hospital plans to resume surgeries.

If you are an employee of the hospital and haven’t already, be sure to contact the Employee Disaster Assistance Hotline (1-866-631-8917) to check-in, hear about the benefits being provided and ensure they have accurate information about your current location. This is especially important if your paychecks are not directly deposited into your bank account so that delivery of your paychecks may be uninterrupted. 

GenoMed Offer Free Medical Assistance for Acute Kidney Failure and WNV

GenoMed Inc, a St Louis, Missouri-based Next Generation Disease Management company, announced that it was offering free assistance to medical workers confronting acute kidney failure in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. In future weeks, the Company stands ready to help with the expected resurgence in West Nile virus encephalitis and the possible emergence of other mosquito-borne viral diseases like dengue, St. Louis Equine Encephalitis, etc.

Veterans Administration Brings Mobile Unit to Wesley Medical Center

The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center has opened a Mobile Clinic at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg to provide medical treatment to veterans displaced by Hurricane Katrina. “We want to make sure we help our veterans during these difficult times,” said Rebecca Wiley, acting medical center director.

The medical center has an existing partnership with Wesley to operate the Hattiesburg community-based outpatient clinic. Veterans enrolled in the Hattiesburg community-based outpatient clinic should continue to seek treatment at that clinic. “We’re fortunate to have an outstanding partnership with Wesley. They have really stepped up to help us with these mobile clinics,” Wiley said.

“There are many veterans who usually get their VA services on the Gulf Coast or in New Orleans who will need our assistance,” said Ron Seal, Wesley Medical Center CEO. “We expect to see a large number of veterans in need of medical care and other services that the VA can assist with.”

The Mobile Clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week providing services to veterans affected by Hurricane Katrina. Veterans can reach the clinic at 601-503-3904.

Primary Healthcare Clinic fully operational

Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center announces its main clinic at 3502 West Northside Drive in Jackson is open and fully operational to deliver primary health care services and medication at no cost to victims of Hurricane Katrina. For more information call 601-362-5321.