UC hospitals and health professionals involved in medical assistance
University of California medical centers, hospitals, schools, physicians, nurses and other health professionals are helping the recovery efforts in a number of ways.
All five of the UC medical centers have registered to supply personnel, supplies, equipment and each medical school has designated a Hurricane Katrina liaison officer.
In addition, UC Davis has offered telemedicine support to provide long-distance specialty consultations with health care personnel and patients in the disaster region. UC Davis pioneered the use of portable satellite technology for medical consultations in areas where the telecommunications infrastructure is nonexistent or disrupted.
Medical Assistance - Co-sponsored by San Diego-based International Relief Teams and the UCSD Medical Center, a 36-member Disaster Medical Assistance Team (under the auspices of the California Office of Emergency Services, Emergency Services Management Authority and FEMA) has been dispatched to Louisiana, where it will assess the medical needs of hurricane victims and administer antibiotics, vaccines and various pharmaceuticals to prevent the spread of a number of communicable diseases common with hurricanes and floods. Three of the 36-member team are UCSD staff and physicians.
UC will also provide medical personnel and health professionals, as well as equipment and supplies, to federal medical shelters (MASH units) being assembled in the affected region.
UCSF nurses volunteer to aid hurricane victims
Equipment and personnel from UC-managed national laboratories are also involved in health and safety concerns in the disaster area, including search and rescue efforts and issues associated with hazardous materials.
UC’s California-Mexico Health Initiative is also serving in an advisory capacity to the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad to help officials from these organizations directly connect with community-level resources and relief efforts.
Information resources
Fact sheet on preventing waterborne diseases that can spread from animals to people
Disaster relief for people with Diabetes
Personal preparedness measures (UCSF)
Other organizational links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. DHS/Health Resources and Services Administration - Health care providers in affected areas
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) – Hurricane Katrina information
FEMA medical assistance information
National Institutes of Health - health information links, including toxicology and environmental health
Hospital relief efforts - coordination, shelter and staffing
Department of Homeland Security “Ready America” – emergency supply kits and family plans