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Disaster ... Hurricane Preparedness ... Emergency Medicine ... Disaster... Hurricane Prep

VITAS® Healthcare Is Prepared to Care for Patients

When Disaster Strikes … and Every Day

Florida sustains more When a disaster looms, Responding with calm, dignity with water, food and personal hygiene
direct hits from hurri- VITAS executes an emer- and values products and deployed directly to
canes than any other state, gency plan. The core com- VITAS’ daily focus on bringing calm employees and patients.
according to the National ponent: communication. and dignity to anxious, uncertain Even before Houston had recovered,
Oceanic and Atmospheric Pre-event, during and patients and families who are facing the Florida and Georgia were preparing for
Administration. From post-event, continuous challenges of a life-limiting illness carries Hurricane Irma’s arrival. When Irma left
1851 to 2018, the phone and text communi- over into our disaster planning and a trail of damaged buildings, flooding
Sunshine State sustained cations among VITAS response. and millions without power, VITAS team
121 hurricanes. leaders, senior manage- Guided by two of our company’s values members were right behind, ready to
As healthcare profes- ment, program managers, —“Patients and families come first” and make a difference.
sionals know, providing medical directors, corpo- “We take care of each other”— teams VITAS hospice teams from Miami to
healthcare during and rate departments and field have proven time and time again they are Jacksonville maintained care for existing
immediately after hurri- staff ensure that all aspects willing to do what it takes to resume patients and brought new patients on
canes and other natural BY GRACE FERNANDEZ of disaster planning are patient care as soon and as safely as pos- service. VITAS assisted Florida employ-
disasters can present a covered. Throughout any sible, and they are willing to go above ees with critical and emergent needs,
myriad of short-term weather event or emer- and beyond to make it happen. including food, water, medical aid and
obstacles and long-term challenges. gency, decisions are made based on inter- After Hurricane Harvey’s historic even gasoline.
VITAS® Healthcare, the nation’s lead- nal needs and information from federal, flooding in Houston, for example, VITAS VITAS remains steadfast in its commit-
ing hospice care provider, was founded state and local agencies. employees needed help caring for their ment to provide comfort and support to
in Miami and cares for an average of When staff members in the field are own families. Spared much of the storm’s patients, their families and its employees
9,628 patients every day in 13 locations unable to drive or travel safely, or when damage, VITAS colleagues from offices in at the time it is needed most—even when
throughout Florida. In 2019, VITAS roads are impassable, VITAS’ highly Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio vol- that time includes hurricanes, severe
enters its fourth decade of providing trained, 24/7 Telecare staff members mon- untarily relocated temporarily to storms, fires and other natural disasters.
compassionate end-of-life care through- itor VITAS hospice patients and families by Houston to ensure uninterrupted care for Guided by its core values, VITAS remains
out South Florida. phone until team members can resume Houston-area hospice patients and their focused on overcoming any challenge in
home visits. Additionally, the VITAS digital families, a gesture that gave Houston- order to make a difference in the lives of
Severe weather and natural communications teams update phone sys- based employees time to recoup, recover others.
disasters in Florida tems and online resources to keep South and return to work. Grace Fernandez is Senior National
As recently as 2017, when massive Florida patients, families and employees The VITAS national management team Patient Care Administrator for VITAS
hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted informed. stepped in as well. VITAS fleet trucks Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of
the Sunshine State, VITAS demonstrated Once the disaster has passed, recovery from our Home Medical Equipment divi- end-of-life care. For more information,
its ability to deliver consistent, high-qual- efforts kick into high gear, often support- sion—usually filled with durable medical call VITAS at (866) 759-6695
ity end-of-life care during trying natural ed by VITAS team members who can be equipment like hospital beds and oxygen or visit VITAS.com.
disasters. deployed from programs in other states. tanks for patients—were stocked instead

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