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. 2018 May/Jun;16(3):203-206.
doi: 10.5055/jem.2018.0369.

Challenges of service coordination for evacuees of Hurricane Maria through the National Disaster Medical System

Neil M Vora  1 , Aaron Grober  2 , Bradley P Goodwin  2 , Michelle S Davis  3 , Chris McGee  4 , Sara E Luckhaupt  5 , Jennifer A Cockrill  6 , Selena Ready  7 , Laura Nichole Bluemle  8 , Lauren Brewer  5 , Angela Brown  5 , Cassidy Brown  9 , Julie Clement  10 , Diane L Downie  5 , Michael R Garner  11 , Ruby Lerner  7 , Margaret Mahool  12 , Shirley A Mojica  13 , Leisha D Nolen  5 , Melanie R Pedersen  9 , Mary Jane Chappell-Reed  9 , Edecia Richards  14 , Jonathan Smith  8 , Kitichia C Weekes  10 , Jeanette Dickinson  11 , Charles Weir  11 , Thomas I Bowman  11 , Jeanne Eckes  11
Affiliations

Challenges of service coordination for evacuees of Hurricane Maria through the National Disaster Medical System

Neil M Vora et al. J Emerg Manag. 2018 May/Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the challenges of service coordination through the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) for Hurricane Maria evacuees, particularly those on dialysis.

Design: Public health report.

Setting: Georgia.

Report: On November 25, 2017, there were 208 patients evacuated to Georgia in response to Hurricane Maria receiving NDMS support. Most were evacuated from the US Virgin Islands (97 percent) and the remaining from Puerto Rico (3 percent); 73 percent of these patients were on dialysis, all from the US Virgin Islands. From the beginning of the evacuation response through November 25, 2017, there were 282 patients evacuated to Georgia via NDMS, with a median length of coverage through NDMS for those on and not on dialysis of 60 and 16 days, respectively.

Conclusion: The limited capacity and capability of dialysis centers currently in the US Virgin Islands are delaying the return to home of many Hurricane Maria evacuees who are on dialysis.

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