Healthcare

Like in many poor states, numerous issues associated with healthcare face the citizens of Louisiana. From a lack of access to public healthcare systems and servcies to an inability to afford prescription drugs and routine health maintenance services, healthcare problems plague Louisianians, especially those who rely on state and federal assistance.

Relative to long-term human recovery post-disaster, these healthcare issues cause major hurdles for families who are also attempting to navigate various social systems. In addition to the lack of access to healthcare, many families must also deal with finding temporary places to live, rebuilding their homes, placing their children into new schools, and seeking the resources needed in order to re-establish their households. These situations cause stress, emotional challenges, respiratory illnesses, and other maladies, especially in children and the elderly.

Following catastrophic events, access for the most vulnerable populations -- families with children, families with disabilities, and families living in poverty -- is likely to decrease. For those who are rarely able to access the healthcare system during normal cirsumstances, having to navigate the system during these challenging times can be impossible.

Additionally, during major events such as Katrina, medical records are permanantly lost, medical professional are displaced, and healthcare facilities are badly damaged and deemed inoperable. During such scenarios, it is critical that the state seek out the most vulnerable populations and ensure that they have lifesaving medical care and an access to much-needed medications.

Key Recovery Corps positions related to healthcare:

• The state of Louisiana must align its healthcare system to that those seeking its services, especially children, the elderly, and those with disabilities, are able to quickly access those services, especially in the wake of disasters and other situations that greatly impact their lives
• Medical records should be digital and placed within a national database so that they can be obtained anywhere a citizen may evacuate to in times of emergency
• It is essential that comprehensive healthcare assessments and on-going services be provided to all children facing significant displacement following a major disaster
• Once determined that a child/children are likely to be in a condition of sustained instability during major disaster recovery, resources should be made available to assure a total healthcare needs assessment
• The state shall sustain a dynamic database of all displaced children, elderly citizens, and citizens with disabilities during the period of recovery
• Each recovery-displaced child shall be assigned to a "medical home provider"
• Case managers should assure that transportation for scheduled and urgent healthcare appointments are available and timely
• Access to medications, specialty healthcare services, and other special needs should be assured
• Federal funds should be made available to support these issues during times of recovery, but contingent upon assurances that the model of care fulfills the basic requirements of a medical home