TO: Healthcare Professionals and Relief Personnel

FROM: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

DATE: September 1, 2005

TOPIC: HHS - KATRINA RECOVERY EFFORT

URGENT ATTENTION


The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP) is in the process of identifying and mobilizing healthcare professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. As our nation and the global community is now aware, the healthcare needs resulting from Katrina has reached an extremely critical nature. Please respond to this email immediately if you or your professional organization can provide assistance in the needed areas outlined below.

Mission Title: Hurricane Katrina Relief

Mission Need: 1100 Healthcare Professionals and Relief Personnel

Location: Southern Region affected by Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas)

Staff Needs: Multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and relief personnel with expertise in the following areas. * Identifies critical staffing demands.

Administration/Finance Officers *Nursing Assistants/Nursing Support Technicians
*Chaplain/Social Worker Nursing Staff Directors
Clinical Physicians *Patient Transporters/Volunteers
Dentists Pharmacists
Dieticians Psychologists
Epidemiologists *Physician's Assistants or Nurse Practitioners
Environmental Health Physician Chiefs of Staff
Epidemiologists Respiratory Therapists
*Facility Managers *RNs
*Housekeepers *Safety Officers
IT/Communications Officers Security Officers
*LPNs *Social Workers
Medical Clerks *Supply Managers
Mental Health Workers Veterinarians



Note: Additional critical needs are expected to be in the areas of Occupational Health, Medical Equipment, Facilities and Logistics.


Special Considerations/Needs:
Organizations/Associations/Health Professional Schools, and others who can respond in a consolidated effort with multidisciplinary teams of 5 professionals/volunteers or more (see Staff Needs) to meet Katrina healthcare recovery efforts.

Date/Length of Time Needed:
Immediate short and long-term assignments required for a minimum of 14 days up to a maximum of 30 days.

Volunteer/Employment Agreement:
HHS plans to hire personnel as needed. These personnel will be hired as non-paid temporary Federal employees. What does this mean? Temporary Federal employees will be covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act for liability coverage and Workman's Compensation. Travel and per diem will be paid however they will not receive a salary. Credentialing/privileging is required for healthcare professionals (details about credentialing will be provided to those who will be deployed).

Additional Forms/Releases as Required
Signatures will be secured for necessary forms before deployment.

To register please visit www.hhs.gov/, click on the Hurricane Katrina link and complete the requested information. You may also call 1-866-528-6334 or further information. The phones and website are now up. Callers are standing by to take your information.



Thank you very much for your concern, interest and willingness to volunteer.





Rabi`a Graney, PhD, RN
President / Founder
International Consulting Institute for Nursing
RabiaGraney (at) aol.com / NursingInstitute (at) aol.com
www.InternationalConsultingInstitute.com