Health and Human Services on Katrina

[Ramsey]

I got this email from our hospital administration today:

"We know that all of us are concerned about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. As you can imagine, health care services are desperately needed for those who have survived the storm. Today, we participated in a conference call with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, and thousands of other hospitals nationwide to identify ways in which we can help in this terrible situation. Secretary Leavitt told us that the government’s response plans are being finalized now and additional information will be forthcoming shortly. Most assuredly, there will be a call for health care volunteers. However, such a volunteer effort must be carefully orchestrated by the government in order not to add to the problems in the area.

...As soon as additional information is available on how you can help, we will share it widely. In the meantime, donations are being accepted by the Red Cross and other charities."

Now I am not knocking any effort on the part of the administration to help, but doesn't this all seem "too little, too late", and terribly disorganized. So Leavitt has a conference call with hospital administrators today only to tell them he has no plan for their participation and will get back to them later? Why isn't a plan for disaster relief formulated in advance and ready to go? Didn't we know about this hurricane days before it hit? Heck, don't we in general know about the risk of hurricanes to our coastal cities and the types of relief efforts needed?

I would think the crucial opportunity to save lives is now, not next week.