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AARC Reaches Out to Help in Disaster

Updated September 26, 2005

  Request Disaster Relief Funds
   

AARC Disaster Relief Fund
The AARC has activated its Disaster Relief Fund for AARC members residing in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. These members may be recipients of assistance from the AARC if they sustained property loss or damage during Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. Since its inception, the Disaster Relief Fund has distributed over $25,000 to over 60 AARC members. AARC members in the disaster areas who have experienced significant property loss or damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita may apply for a grant of up to $500 for assistance (Download a Disaster Relief Fund application to request funds). Applications will be reviewed at the AARC executive office in Dallas, and will then be sent on to the president of their respective state society for verification and a recommendation of action. In 1992, the AARC established a Disaster Relief Fund based on action by its Board of Directors and House of Delegates. The Fund, which may be activated at the time of any federally declared disaster, was established in an effort to assist members of the AARC who may experience property loss or damage in a natural disaster. It has been used following hurricanes in Florida and Hawaii, earthquakes in California, flooding in the Midwestern states, and tornadoes in the Southeast. The Disaster Fund is open from one year from the date of the disaster. Individuals needing an application to apply for funds should contact the AARC in Dallas at (972) 243-2272.

   Contribute to the AARC Disaster Relief Fund
   

If you wish to contribute to the AARC’s Disaster Relief Fund, you can donate with a credit card online using our secure server or send a check made payable to the AARC at 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063. Put “Disaster Fund” in the memo section of the check. Or you can call the AARC’s Customer Service Department and tell them you want to make a donation with a credit card.

Information for Hurricane Responders

News Stories about Respiratory Therapists
The AARC Executive Office has been gathering the following news stories about Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita rescue efforts that involve respiratory therapists:

Hospitals/Red Cross Call for Health Care Volunteers
The following are news stories that indicate the need for health care volunteers. Those included specifically mention respiratory therapists. Most articles also include contact information.

However, we caution that the best way to assure that your services are needed, that you have all the paperwork necessary, that you know where to go is to contact your state emergency management response or emergency preparedness agency. Volunteer respiratory therapists should not go to any affected area unless with an organized group, agency or facility.

Offering Assistance
Many respiratory therapists want to help. As we learn of possible avenues for volunteering we will post them. Please note that we have not been able to verify some of these requests, because of the obvious difficulties in communication.

Here is a general site for signing up to volunteer. It is called the Medical Volunteer Registry. The site says that a health care worker in any state can register here to work.

Louisiana
The Louisiana Hospital Association has indicated that health care workers wanting to help should call (225) 763-5740. We have not been able to verify that this is a working number, but this is a possible outlet for volunteering your services.

The LA-OEP (Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness) is requesting healthcare volunteers. This  includes ALL levels of nursing expertise. If you and your family are safe, please volunteer—there is a tremendous need for nurses. Call (225) 389-2100 and ask for “Medical”. If the line is busy, please keep calling.

Mississippi
The Mississippi Hospital Association is not specifically asking for respiratory therapists, but they do have a call out for EMTs, Physicians, and nurses, who are to call their respective licensure boards. You may want to read this information and call the Mississippi Licensure Board at (601) 576-7260 to see what needs they may have.

Alabama
Doctors, nurses and other health professionals should contact the Alabama Department of Public Health. The ADPH is keeping a list of people who are willing to volunteer and will use this list as requests are made. E-mail: jhardy@adph.state.al.us.

Additionally, Alabamians can sign up at the Governor’s site to volunteer.

Licensure Issues
This information is helpful for out-of-state therapists coming to practice in Texas as they accompany the transport of patients or become employed within the state for a short period of time.

Respiratory therapists have to be licensed in Texas to practice respiratory care. The Texas department of regulation has a process in place for the next few weeks to process applications immediately for Hurricane Katrina victims. The individual can apply online or fill out an application and fax it to Leonard Rivas, 512-834-6677, please state it is Hurricane Katrina. If the individual applies online please fax the receipt to Leonard Rivas with as much information as possible and phone numbers. If the person has a copy of their LA or MS licensure card or NBRC certification please fax it. If not, the department can verify this information from our end. Please contact us if we can be further assistance.

For information please contact
Mouri Barnes, Leonard Rivas, or Pam Kederka
Email and telephone contacts:
Pam.Kederka@dshs.state.tx.us
Phone: 512-834-6632

We continue to field questions regarding licensed therapists volunteering coming in from other states to assist in the disaster states of LA, AL, and MS. Here is further information.

Alabama
Alabama enacted RT licensure late in 2004, and is currently finalizing licensure regulations and preparing to begin the licensure application process. Therefore as of Sept. 2005, no license to practice respiratory therapy/care is required in Alabama. See message below from the Alabama State Board for Respiratory Therapy

The Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy is currently in the process of certifying Rules and Regulations for the enforcement of the Respiratory Therapy Board Act passed in 2004. Currently, no licensure for Respiratory Therapists is required. Respiratory Therapists assisting in humanitarian relief for hurricane victims do not have to apply for emergency licensure at this time. Licensing of Respiratory Therapists in Alabama is projected to begin on November 1, 2005. For individuals assisting in this effort after November 1, 2005, licensure information including an application is available at www.asbrt.alabama.gov

Please contact the ASBRT Office if we can be of further assistance. Thank you.

For information please contact
Paula Scout McCaleb, Executive Director
334-396-2332
paulascout@aol.com

Louisiana
We have received calls from RTs whose license has or will very soon expire. The question is what to do. The LA State Board of Medical Examiners, under which the RTs are licensed, is located in downtown New Orleans. It apparent at this time that the Licensure Board is not functioning from this location. We do not know at this time where or when operations will be relocated and be operational again. We would suggest, that given the gravity of the situation in the state, that issuing licensure renewals are probably not high on the state’s priority list. However, we would recommend keeping in contact with the LA state government. This website takes you to the opening and closing’s of various LA state government agencies:

http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/doa/officeclosure.htm

Further questions should be addressed to the contact numbers provided on that webpage.

For your information here is the contact information for the LA RT Licensure Board

Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Respiratory Therapy
630 Camp Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-568-6820 Fax: 504-599-0503
E-mail address: ldyer@lsbme.org
Web Site: www.lsbme.org

Mississippi
At the moment we have no new information on any possible changes affecting the RT MS licensure. We would suggest keeping in contact with the MS RT Board:

Respiratory Care Advisory Council
David Kweller
MS State Dept. of Health, Professional Licensure
Respiratory Care
PO Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: 601-576-7260 Fax: 601-576-7267
Web Site: www.msdh.state.ms.us/professional/index.htm

Florida
Any questions regarding RT licensure in Florida should be directed to the Florida Licensure Board

Board of Respiratory Care
Sandra Washington
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #C-05
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3255
Phone: 850-245-4444, ext. 3477 or 850-243-4373
Fax: 850-414-6860
Web site: www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/respiratory/rt_home.html

Other States
Finally for those respiratory therapists from other licensed states who may be coming to assist in the efforts in the affected states, and want to know whether with an out of state license will they be able to provide services, we would advise the following:

First you should be affiliated with some organized entity, Red Cross, hospital, official state or federal disaster teams etc. that is taking the responsibility of co-coordinating your volunteer efforts across state lines. These organizations will inform you of what documentation you will need to provide. We would assume that a photocopy of your RT license will be necessary. A copy of your NBRC credential may also be wise.

Second, President Bush has declared the Gulf states a national disaster zone, thus the usual rules and regulations for issues such as licenses at least during the immediate crisis do not usually apply. In the coming weeks or months if the disaster continues, there very well may be emergency licenses required. Again, your sponsoring organization will have this information.

Third, for information on your own state Respiratory Care/Therapy Licensure Board, see the AARC State Licensure Information page. Please note, most, but not all RT Licensure Boards have websites. Also be aware some sites are much easier to navigate than others.

California
The AARC received the following e-mail from the Respiratory Care Board of California:

California Respiratory Therapist Application Process Expedited for Persons Displaced as a Result of Hurricane Katrina

This information is for respiratory therapists displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina who may choose to temporarily or permanently relocate to California. The State of California requires licensure or possession of a temporary work permit (issued by the Board) in order to practice respiratory care. The Respiratory Care Board of California is accommodating and expediting applications for individuals from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The Board will attempt to issue a temporary work permit in as little as one day (upon receipt of a completed application and credential and state licensure verification as available).

For more information, please contact Monica Rodriguez or Christine Molina at (916) 323-9983 or visit the Board's webpage at: www.rcb.ca.gov.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a press release regarding the relaxing of certain Medicare and federal regulations. Among the statements is the following:

“Normal licensing requirements for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who cross state lines to provide emergency care in stricken areas will be waived as long as the provider is licensed in their home state.”

Read the full press release.

Areas of Need
AARC has been working to identify areas of need in the wake of this week’s hurricane in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. We are aware of the following needs:

  • Kenner Regional Hospital
    Kenner Regional Hospital in New Orleans is looking for help to relocate up to 50 patients and equipment to the Houston area. They are looking for help in transporting patients and equipment. Call RT Director Gary Dufresne (504) 464-8014 or C.J. Casey (504) 464-8157.
  • Texas Hospital Association
    The Texas Hospital Association has put out the following alert: The Governor’s Division of Emergency Management is requesting the services of 200 physicians and about 380 nurses, along with other medically trained personnel—ESPECIALLY RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS. Due to the high volume of calls, please e-mail James Bryant with the Texas Department of State Health Services at James.Bryant@DSHS.state.tx.us.
  • FEMA
    The AARC has called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to alert them that we are ready to notify respiratory therapists if they have a need.
  • OEMS
    A member from North Carolina who is on the North Carolina State Medical Assistance Team, which will deploy to New Orleans on Thursday, notes that they are requesting help from RTs. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact their local Office of Emergency Medical Services. This is often located with a state EMS or FEMA office.

Disaster Response Electronic Mailing List
The AARC has a Disaster Response Roundtable, which is an electronic mailing list network. We will post more information or needs on that list as necessary. In order to join that list, go to:
http://www.aarc.org/community/disaster_roundtable.asp.

Hurricane Resources for You and Your Patients
Our fellow Therapists and patients in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast are experiencing a terrible tragedy as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Many are asking where they should go to find assistance and those of us that have not been directly affected by the disaster, want to know what we can to to help.

In an effort to answer those uncertainties the AARC has complied a list identifying Local, State, National, and Shelter City Resources that are mobilizing efforts to assist the the victims of the hurricane as well as a written material that will help to answer many of the questions related to the aftermath of disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina. By no means is this a complete listing of all the wonderful organizations that are offering to give aid and comfort to the victims and as time goes on we expect this list to grow.

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