Profession
Here's how to help those injured by Hurricane Katrina
■ There are opportunities for those doctors who are able to help.
By Victoria Stagg Elliott — Posted Sept. 19, 2005
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The Louisiana Dept. of Health and Hospitals, the Louisiana State Medical Society and medical associations and public health departments from around the nation stepped up to recruit physicians to aid those injured by Hurricane Katrina.
On its Web site, the LSMS posted a call, particularly for emergency physicians, to work in temporary medical operations staging areas and special needs shelters set up in Baton Rouge, Thibodaux and other areas of the state. The departments of health in both Mississippi and Alabama also asked those doctors who wanted to volunteer to give them a call.
The Texas Medical Assn. promised to recruit 200 physicians to care for those still in Louisiana and the thousands evacuated to Texas cities. More than 1,000 physicians from across the country signed up almost as soon as the TMA's call went out. "We need to do everything we can to help our neighbors in their greatest time of need," said TMA President Robert T. Gunby Jr., MD.
TMA spokeswoman Pam Udall said even more doctors were required because the needs of the people that the hurricane displaced are great. "They have nothing," she said. "And some people may be here for a while."
Texas physicians who want to be deployed to Louisiana should e-mail Gayle Love ([email protected]" target="_blank">link); Texas and non-Texas physicians who want to care for refugees in Texas should e-mail C.J. Bradford ([email protected]" target="_blank">link).
