NIH Hurricane Katrina Action Plan

Update for AAMC Partners

1. Surge Capacity at the NIH Clinical Research Center: Up to 100 beds are available in the Clinical Center for specialized referrals. Arrangements for referrals and transport are not defined at this time, and no patients have arrived.


2. Triage/Consultation Role with NIH Academic Partners: The list of expertise in medical areas available for consultation continues to grow and now includes the specialties listed below. The NIH consultation center is available to provide telephone consultation services to primary care providers of patients in the Katrina disaster zone by calling 1-866-887-2842.

Environmental/toxic concerns
Infectious Diseases and Tropical/Geographical Medicine Pediatric and adult oncology
Ophthalmology
Oral Medicine
Otolaryngology
Psychiatry
Cardiac/pulmonary diseases
Genetic diseases
Pediatric endocrinology
Adult endocrinology
Pediatric metabolism
Obstetrics/gynecology
A contact list of our national medical school partners around the country who stand ready to assist is available.

3. Field Hospital Operation: NIH is staffing a Federal Medical Contingency Station with 250 beds at Key Field in Meridian, MS. A reconnaissance team consisting of 10 personnel deployed on the evening of Sept. 4 prior to the next deployment of 38 personnel Sept. 5. Over 100 personnel are prepared to follow as needed. Medical supplies, as they are identified, will be provided to augment the needs of the team; limited supplies were sent with the advance group.


4. General Support: Status: An NIH command center continues to operate in the Office of the Director, a website is active to provide information to NIH academic partners and grantees, and communications were sent Sept. 4 to NIH grantees and intramural PIs.