By — Laura Santhanam Laura Santhanam Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/find-critical-medical-care-youre-hurricane-survivor Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter How to find critical medical care if you’re a hurricane survivor Health Aug 30, 2017 5:37 PM EDT Chronic illness persists during a natural disaster, and health care systems around Houston and across Texas are working to connect cancer and dialysis patients with needed treatment following Hurricane Harvey. While cancer patients should first contact their medical teams for advice on how to proceed with treatment, Debra Patt, an oncologist in Austin and vice president of Texas Oncology, said communication lines in and around Houston and Southeast Texas are often down and “many patients may not know what is the right thing to do.” In response, Texas Oncology, a network of more than 170 clinics scattered across the state, has established a triage hotline — 1-888-864-4226 — for cancer patients in active treatment to call if they want to find a facility closest to where they are, as well as a website to search for nearby oncology specialists in the network. If patients have left Texas, they can contact the U.S. Oncology group to connect with network partners nearest to them. “The medical community in Texas is really trying to do everything we can to support the Harvey victims during this terrible tragedy,” Patt said. “It’s really nice to see anyone working together.” The Harris Health System serves 6,000 patients daily as a public health safety net network of clinics and care for a population of more than 320,000 people. Both of the system’s emergency departments are open and admitting patients who can overcome floodwaters, said spokesman Bryan McLeod. “We’re doing everything we can to get our facilities back and operable as soon as we can,” he said. The system, which normally operates 16 pharmacies, will reopen one location at Smith Clinic on Friday at 8 a.m. to make emergency refills at 2525A Holly Hall Street in Houston. Mental Health and Stress Disaster Distress Hotline Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to talk to a crisis counselor trained to help, available 24 hours a day year-round. Magellan Crisis Line 1-800-327-7451 This 24-hour confidential counseling hotline is available free to all Texas residents. National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) Call this free hotline Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., ET to connect with mental health information, counseling referrals and support. Oncology Texas Oncology 1-888-864-4226 More than 170 locations throughout Texas This network is taking Houston-area cancer patients who need treatment, regardless of whether they were in or out of the network before Hurricane Harvey. Smith Clinic 2525A Holly Hall Street, Houston, Texas 713-566-3600 Harris Health System will provide radiation oncology at this location at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday, August 31. Emergency Room Services Ben Taub Hospital 1504 Taub Loop Houston, Texas 77030 (713) 873-2000 Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital 5656 Kelley Street Houston, TX 77026 713-566-5100 Medication Smith Clinic 2525A Holly Hall Street, Houston, Texas 713-566-3600 One of 16 pharmacy locations in Houston’s Harris Health System network, this location will offer emergency medication refills starting at 8 a.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 1. Respiratory American Lung Association 1-800-LUNGUSA If you are concerned about air quality following Hurricane Harvey, the American Lung Association encourages patients to call this number and ask nurses and respiratory therapists. Cardiovascular American Heart Association This map of recognized hospitals is available to heart patients displaced by the storm. MDLive telehealth visit www3.mdlive.com/harveyem (888) 959-9516 Promotional code: HARVEY Hurricane-affected residents of Texas and Louisiana can receive free telehealth visits with a physician until Sept. 8. Diabetes and Kidney Disease Fresenius Kidney Care 1-800-626-1297 Dialysis patients who live in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey can call this hotline to connect with disaster response resources and treatment. Out-of-state doctors who want to help If you are a hospital physician, email TMBtransition@tmb.state.tx.us with your name, area of speciality, state where you’re license, and identification number. If you are a practicing physician, but not in a hospital, learn how to expedite your permit here: http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/visiting-physician-temporary-permit This list will be updated as more resources become available. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Laura Santhanam Laura Santhanam Laura Santhanam is the Health Reporter and Coordinating Producer for Polling for the PBS NewsHour, where she has also worked as the Data Producer. Follow @LauraSanthanam @LauraSanthanam
Chronic illness persists during a natural disaster, and health care systems around Houston and across Texas are working to connect cancer and dialysis patients with needed treatment following Hurricane Harvey. While cancer patients should first contact their medical teams for advice on how to proceed with treatment, Debra Patt, an oncologist in Austin and vice president of Texas Oncology, said communication lines in and around Houston and Southeast Texas are often down and “many patients may not know what is the right thing to do.” In response, Texas Oncology, a network of more than 170 clinics scattered across the state, has established a triage hotline — 1-888-864-4226 — for cancer patients in active treatment to call if they want to find a facility closest to where they are, as well as a website to search for nearby oncology specialists in the network. If patients have left Texas, they can contact the U.S. Oncology group to connect with network partners nearest to them. “The medical community in Texas is really trying to do everything we can to support the Harvey victims during this terrible tragedy,” Patt said. “It’s really nice to see anyone working together.” The Harris Health System serves 6,000 patients daily as a public health safety net network of clinics and care for a population of more than 320,000 people. Both of the system’s emergency departments are open and admitting patients who can overcome floodwaters, said spokesman Bryan McLeod. “We’re doing everything we can to get our facilities back and operable as soon as we can,” he said. The system, which normally operates 16 pharmacies, will reopen one location at Smith Clinic on Friday at 8 a.m. to make emergency refills at 2525A Holly Hall Street in Houston. Mental Health and Stress Disaster Distress Hotline Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to talk to a crisis counselor trained to help, available 24 hours a day year-round. Magellan Crisis Line 1-800-327-7451 This 24-hour confidential counseling hotline is available free to all Texas residents. National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) Call this free hotline Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., ET to connect with mental health information, counseling referrals and support. Oncology Texas Oncology 1-888-864-4226 More than 170 locations throughout Texas This network is taking Houston-area cancer patients who need treatment, regardless of whether they were in or out of the network before Hurricane Harvey. Smith Clinic 2525A Holly Hall Street, Houston, Texas 713-566-3600 Harris Health System will provide radiation oncology at this location at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday, August 31. Emergency Room Services Ben Taub Hospital 1504 Taub Loop Houston, Texas 77030 (713) 873-2000 Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital 5656 Kelley Street Houston, TX 77026 713-566-5100 Medication Smith Clinic 2525A Holly Hall Street, Houston, Texas 713-566-3600 One of 16 pharmacy locations in Houston’s Harris Health System network, this location will offer emergency medication refills starting at 8 a.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 1. Respiratory American Lung Association 1-800-LUNGUSA If you are concerned about air quality following Hurricane Harvey, the American Lung Association encourages patients to call this number and ask nurses and respiratory therapists. Cardiovascular American Heart Association This map of recognized hospitals is available to heart patients displaced by the storm. MDLive telehealth visit www3.mdlive.com/harveyem (888) 959-9516 Promotional code: HARVEY Hurricane-affected residents of Texas and Louisiana can receive free telehealth visits with a physician until Sept. 8. Diabetes and Kidney Disease Fresenius Kidney Care 1-800-626-1297 Dialysis patients who live in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey can call this hotline to connect with disaster response resources and treatment. Out-of-state doctors who want to help If you are a hospital physician, email TMBtransition@tmb.state.tx.us with your name, area of speciality, state where you’re license, and identification number. If you are a practicing physician, but not in a hospital, learn how to expedite your permit here: http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/visiting-physician-temporary-permit This list will be updated as more resources become available. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now