2nd Conference Call for LA Flooding & Synopsis of 1st Conference Call

Tomorrow morning, May 19th, HCLA will host a second conference call related to update ourselves and get feedback from you regarding the progress of flooding issues in our state. We will continue to address active, expected and potential implications for home health patients, employees and providers. Please join us at 10 AM to discuss the latest information, share information from effected areas and to offer any questions and suggestions you might have. We won’t have all the answers but your input will help us to get information from other sources if necessary. You will once again have the opportunity to discuss your issues with Marian Tate of DHH Health Standards, who will join us on the call. You’ll find the agenda below and a brief synopsis of the last call will follow later this afternoon. We had over 95 participants on the last call and look forward to your participation. Thank you.
 

Flooding of Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers 

HCLA Emergency Phone Conference 

Flooding of Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers 

Agenda 

1. Effected areas- Maps, Updated Timelines
2. Evacuation of At Risk Patients, Agency Staff
3. At Risk Registry Calls and Email
4. Connections with OEPs, Offices of Emergency Preparedness, Local Govt.
5. Transportation Issues, During and After Flood
6. Length of Time of This Flood Event
7. Patient ID’s, Records, Relocation Information
8. Health Standards Information- Marian Tate
9. Miscellaneous, Utilities, Wildlife, Snakes
10. Other Information Not Covered?
11. Next Call Tuesday, May 25th, 10 AM 

Here are bullets from the first HCLA call on issues related to flooding in Louisiana, information from Health Standards, and links of interest from the state’s emergency preparedness and response website: 

• Flooding is not following the initial timeline released by the Army Corps of Engineers. They suggest flooding is much slower than anticipated due to drought and change in topography since opening of the Morganza Spillway in 1973, We’ll work at getting updated timelines.
• Evacuation of At Risk patients and staff was minimal on our call. Those who have evacuated patients at risk due to inability to move due to medical condition, family inability to assist, or those with financial issues should be reported via our web enabled At Risk Registry. If you have not participated in that contact HCLA. This is a crucial issue to avoid loss of life due to flooding.
• Connecting with patients via telephone or face to face is important for preparation.
• Emergency contact information is key to maintain communications at their new place after evacuation.
• Offices of Emergency Preparedness (OEPs) are important sources of information. Attending local government meetings and updates, checking their websites, etc. will help assure accurate, timely communication in each area of the state.  
• Be especially aware of issues in areas of high probability for flooding, i.e. Krotz Springs, Melville, Stephensville, Pierre Part, Morgan City, Three Mile Lake area, Butte Larose.
• Beware this event may last 30 to 60 days, in ’73 lasted 70 days.
• Power may be out in effected areas. Entergy has already cut off power to many.
• Those who are hesitant or ‘stubborn’ about evacuation might be enticed to respond to a lack of power, clean drinking water or the concern about wildlife coming out of flooded areas to high ground, including deer, bears, snakes, and alligators. The state reported this AM it is ordering larger supplies of anti-venom for ERs.
• Getting visiting home health personnel into effected areas may be an issue, as some areas may be closed due to safety and security concerns. Some agencies are providing staff with placards to hang from the rear view mirrors, letters on company stationary identifying them as a home care nurse, and of course assuring nurses have name badges.
• One caller asked about the National Guard assisting them in getting into flooded areas if necessary. It was suggested any assistance in evacuating someone would very likely be offered, but assistance for what should be routine home health visits would not be high on the priority list for someone who chooses not to evacuate.
• One person shared information about a special program to give cell phones with 200 free minutes to those evacuees who are financially unable to afford one.
• Expect more road closures.

• From Health Standards head Marian Tate:

We also want to ensure that Home Health Agencies understand that it is OK for them to see THEIR PATIENTS who may have evacuated and are now outside of their 50 mile service area. (But it is not OK to admit patients that weren’t already their patients, but to ensure they provide the necessary care and services to their patients, even if they are out of the service area.) If they are out of the service area and the HHA doesn’t have staff that could see them, they should arrange to contract with a HHA in the area that the patient has evacuated to. The contract agency could provide the service and bill the original HHA, then the original HHA continues to bill Medicare as they always do. The original HHA would maintain responsibility for the care of the patient, but care could be provided thru contract.  

The overall plan, if HH or Hospice patients evacuate to a shelter, the HH or Hospice nurses should be continuing to provide care to that patient, even in the shelter. 

Here are links of interest from the past two days from http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/ : 

May 18, 2011
Press Release: US 190 Speed Limit Temporarily Reduced for Safety  

May 18, 2011
Press Release: PHOTO RELEASE: Enforcement Agents on Patrol Document Wildlife Fleeing Flooding in Louisiana  

May 18, 2011
Press Release: Update on State Preparedness and Response Efforts to Mississippi River Rising in Louisiana  

May 17, 2011
Press Release: Officials Urge Residents to Take Caution During and After Flood, Remain Alert for Snakes  

May 17, 2011
Press Release: State filing extensions available to taxpayers affected by 2011 spring flood  

May 17, 2011
Press Release: Gov. Jindal: Parishes Estimate More than 3,000 People Evacuated From Spillway Area Already, Residents Should Continue to Heed Local Warnings  

May 17, 2011
Press Release: Confidential Crisis Counseling Available to Flood Victims