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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Nita Sood, PharmD, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CDR, USPHS, 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 4T20, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-562-7541, nita.sood@cms.hhs.gov, Gary Pannabecker, DDS, The Blackfeet Dental Clinic @the Blackfeet Service Unit, USPHS, IHS, PO Box 760, Browning, MT 59417, Timothy Lozon, DDS, Indian Health Service HQ, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 335, Rockville, MD 20852, Kevin U. Stephens, MD, JD, New Orleans Health Department, 1300 Perdido Street, Suite 8E18, New Orleans, LA 70112, and Edwin M. Galan, MSN, MA, FNP-C, Region VII - Office of Minority Health, USPHS, DHHS, 601 East 12th Street, Suite S-1801, Kansas City, KS 64106.

The impact of Hurricane Katrina on our current health care system demonstrated the need for prompt and early positioning of personnel, supplies, guidelines, and the ability .to communicate these needs quickly. Shortly after Katrina's landfall very few of the victims/evacuees nor their health care providers had access to paper medical records, many of which were destroyed by the hurricane. These citizens were in a critical need to receive medications for both acute illnesses associated with the disaster and chronic conditions. Two vulnerable populations requiring immediate health care attention were patients with HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Thousands of evacuees were displaced and living in shelters or temporary housing across the US. The need for pharmacists was quickly identified since doctors can prescribe but not dispense drugs. The mental health infrastructure within NO was grossly lacking prior to its near complete destruction. An overwhelming need escalated for mental health providers to assist from displaced citizens to volunteers. This need was supported & transitioned in part by PHS officers. The disaster also had a significant impact on acute and chronic oral health needs of those remaining in NO. The Hurricane's wrath impacted both public and private dental service, requiring our Military to backfill. An innovative model was established between the PHS SERT and one of the local universities. Adequate personnel, mobile pharmacies, and guidelines for using drugs not properly stored due to power failures and flooding all echo the need for innovative planning and information technology in planning for future disasters.

Learning Objectives:

(
• Describe pharmaceutical care challenges after Katrina landfall; (
• Identify both the mental health and dental health information challenges during a disaster; (
• Discuss the lessons learned and need for improved informatics; and (
• Present a potential model dental health intervention to be used during a disaster.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation