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As the breadth of the devastation and destruction to the Gulf Coast area was revealed in the days following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, BWH sprang into action as approximately 125 clinicians volunteered to deploy to Louisiana and Mississippi.
BWH's Department of Emergency Medicine dispatched top emergency medicine and public health experts to Washington, D.C., to plan the medical response and to the front lines to assess needs and render care. Meanwhile in Boston, dozens of staff readied at home for Katrina victims potentially headed north for medical treatment, and even more BWHers pitched in by backfilling shifts opened by the sudden deployment.
“I am proud to be part of BWH where everyone's first reaction to this national crisis is filled with concern, support and pledges to help,” BWH President Gary Gottlieb said.
Cranmer continued from D.C. to Baton Rouge where she is working with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and U.S. Public Health Services to organize teams for rapid health assessments of 162 shelters in Louisiana. “The shelters at stadiums, convention centers and basketball arenas are at capacity with people sleeping on floors, in hallways and in concession stands,” Cranmer said this week via phone.
“The magnitude of health issues here seems so much worse than our experience following the tsunami,” said Cranmer, who spent a month in Indonesia following the massive tsunami that ravaged that region in December. “The displaced population is so much larger.”
Despite the overwhelming devastation in the Gulf region and daunting challenges facing health care workers, Cranmer said the massive relief effort is inspiring. “The response, support and spirit of volunteerism from all involved are amazing, and the bravery and resilience of the victims is truly invigorating,” Cranmer said.
Susan Bartels, MD, a fellow in International Emergency Medicine, went to Washington, D.C., and then to Baton Rouge with the Cambridge Health Alliance's emergency mental health evaluation team. “The team is looking at the victims and their needs related to mental health issues from being displaced from the security of their homes and sent to shelters,” VanRooyen said.
Tom Stair, MD, also from the Department of Emergency Medicine, was deployed with IMSuRT (International Medical Surgical Response Team) to the Gulf area for a two week assignment, providing direct care to victims and evacuees. Jennifer Chan, MD, MPH, a senior resident in Emergency Medicine, was expecting to go to Montgomery or Baton Rouge this week, as well.
In addition, VanRooyen is planning for a second wave of care providers to depart for the Gulf. “We're gathering a growing roster of physicians, nurses and other staff to link with facilities in the field with an eye toward temporarily replacing field staffs,” he said.
As physicians are sent to areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, emergency physicians who remained at BWH are stepping up to cover open shifts in the Emergency Department.
“There has been an extraordinary effort by several individuals to fill a growing number of schedule gaps on extremely short notice,” Ron Walls, MD, chairman of Emergency Medicine, said. “These generous individuals also have put their lives on hold, and are contributing above and beyond to maintain the high quality of care delivered at BWH.”
Kate Walsh, chief operating officer, said BWH is poised to lend support and expertise where and when it is needed most in the areas most crippled by the hurricane. “BWH staff is responding to this tragedy in so many positive and effective ways. It is a privilege to support these efforts,” Walsh said.