Thousands of Texans sheltering at the George R. Brown Convention
Center in Houston will have medical care on-site through a 250-bed Federal
Medical Station established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) at the request of the State Department of Health. The Federal Medical
Station is scheduled to be operational Wednesday.
HHS also is helping evacuate hospital patients to healthcare
facilities outside the impacted area.
“We are committed to supporting state and local agencies in
meeting the healthcare needs emerging from this devastating storm,” said
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, M.D. “The Federal Medical
Station we are setting up and staffing in Houston will provide vital care to
Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey, and we stand ready to devote additional
resources as needed.”
The Federal Medical Station at the convention center will be
staffed by members of HHS’ National Disaster Medical System and U.S. Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps.
HHS has additional Federal Medical Stations available for
patient care in Texas, and has positioned two 250-bed Federal Medical Stations
in Baton Rouge ready to be deployed in Louisiana should state officials
determine they are needed.
HHS has more than 500 personnel on the ground to assist those
affected by Hurricane Harvey and 1,300 more on standby.
HHS also has helped local public health officials address the
needs of those who rely upon electricity-dependent medical equipment. Using its
emPOWER tool, HHS has provided information to local public health officials
about the number of Medicare beneficiaries in each impacted area who rely on 14
types of life-maintaining and assistive equipment, ranging from oxygen
concentrators to electric wheelchairs, as well as data on the number of people
who rely on dialysis, oxygen, and home health services. These citizens are
among the most vulnerable in their communities and most likely to need
life-saving assistance in prolonged power outages.
HHS has activated its Disaster Distress Helpline, a toll-free
call center, that is available at 1-800-985-5990 to aid people in coping with
the behavioral health effects of the storm and help people in impacted areas
connect with local behavioral health professionals.
In addition to full-scale coordination across the federal
Cabinet agencies, HHS remains in regular contact with Texas and Louisiana
health officials to maintain awareness of the local situation and stands ready
to augment support to the states as the situation unfolds.
Critical updates will also be available at:
- Secretary
Tom Price, M.D. - @SecPriceMD
- HHS
- @HHSgov
- ASPR
- @PHEgov
- CDC
- @CDCgov
HHS’ NDMS consists of approximately 5,000 medical, public
health, and emergency management professionals from communities nationwide and
serve as Federal government employees when activated as part of a coordinated
federal response.
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