Hurricane Katrina Information for Mississippi Hospitals

HHS Officials Use EHRs To Aid Katrina Evacuees

HHS officials are using electronic health records systems to compile and monitor prescription and treatment histories for Hurricane Katrina evacuees, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said Sept. 12, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports.

Leavitt said the agency is using electronic prescription drug records from retail pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers to compile a database containing evacuees' prescription drug histories. Evacuees who filled prescriptions at large retail pharmacy chains as much as 90 days before the hurricane should be able to access their prescription records through the database, which is still under development. HHS also is using a pilot EHR program at some shelters, including the Astrodome in Houston, to track evacuees' medical care since the hurricane. At the Astrodome, health care providers can use the EHR system to communicate laboratory results to offsite facilities for analysis.

[ via iHealthBeat ]

Walgreen's New Prescription System Put to Test

To improve delivery of medicine to victims of Katrina, Walgreen activated a new prescription filling system that was being tested in Florida.  The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the new system, which electronically sends prescriptions from busy pharmacies to those that are less busy, then sends the prescription back to the local pharmacy, was approved by regulators in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas after hurricane victims rushed into Walgreens seeking emergency refills.

[ via cmo ]

Free Medication Assistance

The Mental Health Association of the Capital Area is available to offer free medication assistance to mentally ill persons in need of psychotropic medication.

Individuals considered working poor, with no insurance, or other resources are eligible for assistance and must reside in Hinds, Rankin, or Madison Counties to qualify.

Some individuals displaced due to Hurricane Katrina may qualify.

Please contact Sylvia Thomas at 601-956-2800.

Pfizer to supply emergency prescriptions to evacuees

From now until Sept. 16, Pfizer, along with participating pharmacies, are helping hurricane survivors obtain their Pfizer medicine. Patients without prescription drug coverage can get their medicines for free. For more information, click here.

Many Area Pharmacies Offering Hurricane Katrina Victims Medications Free of Charge

Select area pharmacies will be offering insulin and other needed medications free of charge to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Pharmacy chains participating include Wal-Mart, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreen and Kroger.

People living in areas affected by the hurricane or those who are displaced by the hurricane can receive seven days of free medication by visiting the nearest location of any of the above participating chains.

Select area pharmacies will be offering insulin and other needed medications free of charge to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Pharmacy chains participating include Wal-Mart, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreen and Kroger.

People living in areas affected by the hurricane or those who are displaced by the hurricane can receive seven days of free medication by visiting the nearest location of any of the above participating chains.

Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Vaccine Storage

Most refrigerated vaccines are relatively stable at room temperature for limited periods of time. The vaccines of most concern are MMR and Varivax, which are sensitive to elevated temperatures. Monitor temperatures; don't discard; don't administer affected vaccines until you have discussed with public health authorities. For more information, click here.