Healthcare Ready Provides Resources During Hurricane Matthew

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Matthew makes landfall on the mainland of the United States, Healthcare Ready, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring patient access to healthcare in times of disasters, is engaged to provide ongoing needed assistance and coordination of response efforts. The following statement may be attributed to Emily Lord, executive director of Healthcare Ready:

Healthcare Ready is working closely with the American Red Cross, state emergency response and public health officials, and our federal partners, including FEMA, DHS, and HHS to provide support and track healthcare operations issues in real-time. Because information can become disjointed during emergencies, we provide a central repository of information and resources for those who will be affected by Hurricane Matthew:

• Rx Open: This afternoon, Healthcare Ready will turn on Rx Open, our online map that shows open pharmacies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. We expect to see high traffic and usage of Rx Open during the response from a wide range of audiences, including healthcare responders in government, private healthcare industry and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
  
  
• Rx On the Run: We encourage all citizens within Hurricane Matthew's path to create a list of vital medicines and keep it on their person. Our tool, Rx On the Run, is a free, personalized wallet card that includes prescriptions and other important medical information. Having this information available can help you access the medications you may need in case of a prolonged evacuation. If you have to evacuate make sure to pack a bag with at least 3 days' worth of medicine. We also encourage you to share a copy of Rx On the Run with someone you trust.
  
  For citizens who may not have access to a printer, here's the medical information you need to capture:
  • Blood type
  • Name and phone numbers for your doctors (primary care doctor, any specialists)
  • Name and phone numbers for your local hospital and nearest pharmacy
  • The name, dosage and frequency for all medications you are currently taking
  • Any allergies or medical conditions
    
    
• Specific Assistance: Healthcare Ready continues to work with federal, state, local officials, nonprofits and shelters to ensure those affected by Hurricane Matthew can access healthcare facilities and medicines they need. Our staff will work with healthcare facilities in the storm's path to ensure deliveries and personnel have access to restricted areas to resume operations. As needed, we will share information on medicine assistance programs.

If you are seeing potential healthcare disruptions, please email [email protected] or call 866-247-2694.

About Healthcare Ready

Healthcare Ready is a non-profit supported by both public and private sector partners, including PhRMA, that works to ensure patient access to healthcare, including medicines, during times of disaster. Healthcare Ready operates a virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to respond to public health, healthcare, and patient access needs that arise during a disaster or disease outbreak.

Contact: Jennifer Glicoes; [email protected]; 202-591-4048

SOURCE Healthcare Ready