In the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes, thousands of Gulf Coast residents relocated throughout Louisiana and the nation. Many of those who remained in Louisiana or have returned to the Gulf Coast now reside in newly erected transitional housing sites in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. These sites have limited resources and lack a public health infrastructure. With assistance from the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA), FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) have responded with leadership, tireless dedication, and compassion to offer vital healthcare services.

 

Within days following Hurricane Rita, The Mobile Health Clinics Network contacted LPCA members in Louisiana to identify provider needs. “Find us mobile health vans”, said Catherine Tonore, CEO of the Primary Health Services Center in Monroe. Thus, The Network initiated its nationwide outreach to locate Mobile Health units available on loan or donation and to arrange for their delivery to Louisiana. The response was both overwhelming and heartfelt. We would like to thank and acknowledge the generosity of these organizations:

 

 

In addition to the above units, The Network arranged for Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire to deliver a truckload of medical supplies and needed personal items for evacuees in Monroe. And Network members, Delta Dental of California donated 15,000 toothbrushes.

 

Says Rhonda Litt, LPCA Executive Director, “we are very grateful for the generosity of these organizations and the assistance from The Network – you are a blessing. With the mobile units we will be better able to serve the people here in Louisiana as they try to recover from this horrific crisis.”

 

Another organization that came forward with assistance was the Siouxland Community Health Center (an FQHA in Sioux City, Iowa). They donated a mobile health unit, medical supplies, and sent staff to EXCELth CHC in New Orleans. Says Litt, “It was great to see a fellow FQHC coming to the rescue of another FQHC in need. They gave EXCELth a newfound strength to move forward in caring for the evacuees and residents living in the new housing sites and, as the EXCELth staff had been dispersed across four states, in re-establishing EXCELth’s provider sites in New Orleans. This act of kindness gives us HOPE.”

 

Mobile Health units from many states were loaned throughout the Gulf Coast. Clinica Sierra Vista (Bakersfield, CA) went to Houston and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (Santa Maria, CA) to Baton Rouge. There are many more examples of extraordinary commitment, kindness and caring by Mobile Health providers who came forth to help Gulf Coast residents in time of great need. “People came to Louisiana unselfishly, taking time away from their clinics and families; slept on floors in the home of friends and strangers and helped our community health centers. Their efforts were essential to the lives of so many medically underserved. The character of these people was phenomenal”, says Litt.

 

The Mobile Health Clinics Network is grateful to the many healthcare organizations that responded to Louisiana’s challenge with The Mobile Health Solution.

 

There is still great need along the Gulf Coast. If your organization would like to loan or donate a Mobile Health unit (medical and/or dental) or medical supplies, please e-mail The Network.