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following links to local and national agencies provide current
information for volunteers and victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association encourages members
of the osteopathic family and others to help support relief
efforts.
Local
Links
The
State of Louisiana's official website for dissemination of information
concerning Hurricane Katrina at www.katrina.louisiana.gov.
Displaced
Physicians
The
Louisiana State Medical Societies (LSMS) "Physician
Work Opportunity Portal" will help match displaced
physicians with job opportunities.
The
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners has temporarily suspended
its operations, as its offices are located in New Orleans. Information
will post on the LSMS website until further notice. The LSBME
recently posted this information for Louisiana licensed physicians:
“All
licenses subject to regular renewal for Louisiana physicians
and allied health professionals who are regulated by the LSBME
will not expire and will be considered to be active until
further notification from the LSBME. “ For more information
please visit the LSMS
Web site.
Volunteers
The
Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals' (DHH) home page and
the Emergency
News Web Site provide information for medical volunteers.
Medical
volunteers may contact the Louisiana DHH via email at medical@dhh.la.gov
for further information. Licensed physicians may contact the
DHH via eopio@dhh.la.gov.
These emails must include:
-
Name
-
Contact Information
-
Experience
-
Dates Available
A
DHH volunteer coordinator will contact volunteers.
DHH also needs volunteers to assist in the Louisiana Medicaid
Program with disability determinations of sick people displaced
by Katrina; interested physicians should contact the Louisiana
DHH by calling 225-342-3866.
Additionally,
the Office of Mental Health needs board-certified psychiatrists
to conduct medical reviews of requests for services given to
victims of Hurricane Katrina. Interested providers should contact
the office at 225-262-2400.
Donations
The
Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Foundation was established to
improve rural healthcare in underserved areas of Louisiana through
statewide promotion of osteopathic medicine and placement of
qualified osteopathic physicians. The fund is currently accepting
donations to provide relief to those members of the osteopathic
family affected by hurricane Katrina. Donations can be made
online at www.hbpf.org/wst_page5.php.
National
Links
Displaced
Physicians
The
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians has a Practice
Resupply Fund to help its affected members purchase practice-related
supplies and equipment. For an application and additional information,
visit www.acofp.org/downloads/hurricane_online.pdf.
Volunteers
The
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established
a website at https://volunteer.hhs.gov
and a toll-free number (1-866-KAT MEDI) to help identify health
care professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane
Katrina relief efforts.
To
support disaster relief efforts, the American Osteopathic Association
is offering grants to D.O.s and osteopathic medical students
traveling to volunteer at the hurricane disaster and relief
sites. More information can be found on the DO-Online
Web site.
Donations
The most effective form of assistance that individuals outside
the region can provide is financial donations to organizations
that are speeding aid to victims such as: American
Red Cross, Salvation
Army and United
Way.
For
more organizations providing hurricane relief efforts and needing
financial assistance visit the American
Public Health Association Web site. In addition, the Food
and Drug Administration has provided guidance for industry and
consumers on their health and safety after hurricane Katrina
at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/hurricane.html.
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