Hurricane RITA

Hurricane warnings / watches are now in effect for portions of Louisiana. Please take heed of the following information as lessons learned from Katrina.

The dialysis community outside of the impacted areas can expect ongoing communications requesting transient dialysis services as patients travel. Please note that once the storm hits, consistent phone service can become problematic. Calls can generally be received, but calling back remains challenging. Cell phone services will become difficult.
Patients may present to dialysis units without advance contact or medical records since conditions are evolving. Patients with no records CAN STILL BE TREATED. All that is required is for a physician to write dialysis orders.
If the patients’ HbsAg status is unknown, provide treatment as potentially positive. If these patients are admitted for treatment before results of HBsAg or anti-HBs testing are known, these patients shall undergo treatment as if the HbsAg test results were positive, except that they shall not be treated in the HbsAg isolation room, area, or machine

Hurricanes KATRINA / RITA Aftermath

The Network has been made aware of an issue that needs attention. There are dialysis patients who evacuated from Louisiana secondary to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is our understanding that FEMA has notified folks that their funds for hotel/motel accommodations will cease as of December 1, 2005. This notification has appeared to start a migration of dialysis patients back to their home units in Louisiana.

It is important to note that some of their home units remain closed and that the units that are open in the greater New Orleans area are functioning under major limitations of stations and staffing. The Network is in the process of updating open New Orleans dialysis unit status to assist in patient placement issues. Furthermore, housing for returnees is problematic or non-existent, even if they can dialyze at their home unit.

1) Dialysis Services Placement Issues…
If you are serving hurricane evacuees in your units, please ask them to notify you of their intent for long-term housing (i.e., relocating there, moving home, moving into a shelter, etc.). In the event that they are moving home, it is critical to request that any of these patients ask for your assistance in their dialysis services placement back home (especially if New Orleans) or wherever they may be relocating. We know that patients are showing back up in New Orleans not having received treatments for up to 8 days. This appears to an educational and/or communication issue and we’d like you to know that the Network is available to assist in patient placement as possible. Patients can utilize the 1.800.472.8664 toll-free number for patient placement assistance.

2) Patient Funding Resources…

AMERICAN KIDNEY FUND (www.kidneyfund.org) 1-800-638-8299
NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION (www.kidney.org) 1-800-622-091
AAKP (No Longer Available) 1-800-749-2257

The aftermath of the hurricanes continues to be faced daily by many people. The Network remains available to assist as possible. Please share this information with your social workers. Thanks for your ongoing efforts to provide quality care to the ESRD patients in Network 13.

Important Phone Numbers

Network 13 Toll Free Numbers:
Toll free [for patients 800.472.8664]
or
Toll free [for facility staff 877.700.1196].

Patient Emergency Transient Assistance Numbers

Toll free Davita- Hurricane Hotline 1.800.400.8331

Toll free FMCNA- Hurricane Hotline 1.800.626.1297

Toll free RCG- Patient Transient Assistance 1.888.724.4242

Toll free Gambro- Patient Transient Assistance 1.877.842.6276
Toll free Gambro- Patient Transient Assistance 1.866.815.2394

Toll free DCI- Patient Transient Assistance 1.800.969.4438

Are You Looking for Dialysis Facility?

If your facility is located in the area impacted by Katrina, a message to the Network office would be appreciated to keep us updated on your status and needs or ways we can be of assistance or get you to another resource.

Network 13 Facilities
Services / Days of Operation/ Status

eSOURCE Web site

CMS – Dialysis Facility Compare

Suggested Resources for Download and Printing

We ask your patience and cooperation in assisting during this emergency. To assist Louisiana dialysis patients and facilities, we have the following emergency management resources available on our web site.

1. Government Related Statements