Hurricane Katrina and the Strategic National Stockpile

During the ongoing hurricane response efforts to support hospitals, the Mississippi Department of Health is diligently working to send out resources. Your hospital may receive some of these federal resources. YOU CAN NOT CHARGE ANYONE FOR ANY OF THESE RESOURCES WHICH YOU RECEIVE FROM THE MS DEPT. OF HEALTH. Knowledge of SNS resources should be maintained within your hospital on a need to know only basis. If you have questions about SNS resources, you may call the MS Dept. of Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 601-576-8085.

Here is the Mississippi Department of Health's procedure on receiving controlled substances:

Controlled Substances:  Registrants who transfer controlled substances must ensure that the people to whom they transfer the drugs have the proper DEA registration.  The registrants also must keep a detailed chain-of-custody record of all transfers.  For C-II substances, that record must include a DEA Form 222.  Controlled substances stored at the RSS site shall remain in the specialized hardened air cargo containers that have met DEA approval for secure storage until time of dispersal.  The DEA registrant at the treatment center/dispensing site shall request Schedule II controlled substances by faxing a signed DEA Form 222 to the RSS site.  Controlled substances of Schedule III, IV, or V may be requested under standard procedures for requesting other medications and supplies from the SNS. Two persons shall stage controlled substances in portable lock boxes.  Signatures of both persons staging controlled substances shall be required on the pick list, thus verifying inventory staged.  The pick list will serve as the detailed chain-of-custody record and is to be placed in the portable lock box prior to sealing the box.   At the treatment center/dispensing site the DEA registrant will sign all pick lists for controlled substances and provide the appropriate section of the original signed DEA Form 222, if applicable.  Signed forms are to be returned to the RSS site.  Discrepancies of controlled substances shall be immediately reported to the Materiels Manager at the RSS site by the DEA registrant at the treatment center/dispensing site.  Upon notification of such discrepancy, the Materiels Manager will order an immediate inventory of said controlled substance(s) in efforts to resolve the discrepancy.