Premier, Inc. Disaster Support Team Assists Hospitals in Katrina's Wake; Contracted Suppliers' Cooperation Makes Aid Possible.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The day after Hurricane Katrina left in its wake the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, the Premier, Inc., Disaster Support Team mobilized to help member hospitals and healthcare systems in Mississippi and Louisiana get the supplies and equipment necessary to meet the needs of their patients. It's been in action since.

From arranging for the delivery of 30,000 pounds of ice to Mississippi Baptist Health System in Jackson, to helping St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston get additional stocks of syringes, diapers and antiseptics for evacuees in the Astrodome, the 30-member team's goal has been to help member organizations continue to do their jobs.

"Our member hospitals are continuing to provide needed healthcare service, as well as general community relief, under some unbelievably adverse conditions," said Don Hancock, Premier Purchasing Partners central group vice president and head of the Premier support team. "This is the very least we can do to make their work just a bit easier. We have had excellent response from our contracted suppliers. Not only have they worked wonders finding and delivering needed supplies and equipment, they have donated thousands of dollars worth as well. We're doing the coordination. Contracted suppliers are making it happen."

The Premier Field Force is in contact several times a day with Premier member organizations in Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as those in Texas and other regions of the country now receiving evacuees from the storm-devastated areas. The team continues to work with Premier's suppliers and other Premier members to locate and deploy supplies and equipment to appropriate hospitals and their disaster relief sites. The team has met at least once a day, usually more, including the Labor Day holiday weekend, to support member needs.

Through its advocacy staff in Washington, Premier is working closely with government agencies and national associations to support broader relief efforts.

As part of Premier's overall response to the Katrina disaster, employees are already actively engaged in an internal fund-raising campaign to assist American Red Cross efforts. The company has pledged to match all employee donations dollar-for-dollar.

Following are some examples of support for members in the initial disaster areas:

--Women's Hospital Foundation in Baton Rouge needed 40 bassinets and cribs for neonates. They were located at another Premier hospital and delivered.

--Cardinal Health, Inc. and Fisher Scientific International have delivered blood culture bottles and agar plates to North Oaks Health System in Hammond, LA. Dade Behring donated desperately-needed panels and prompts.

--Abbott Laboratories (Ross) has delivered disposable infant bottle nipples to South Central Regional Medical Center.

--Mississippi Baptist Health System requested flashlights, batteries, sanitary wipes and disinfectants. Cardinal delivered.

--South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel, MS asked for ice and tetanus toxoid doses. US Foodservice, Inc. supplied the ice; Morris and Dixon Company Ltd., is providing 100 doses of tetanus toxoid, and the rest are being sought from another supplier.

--Lafayette General Medical Center, which is providing care for victims in the Cajun Dome, requested standard first aid kits and 10 bassinets. Owens and Minor donated $4,500 worth of first aid supplies. Hill-Rom Company, Inc. has shipped the bassinets.

--Additionally, Lafayette General Medical Center originally requested antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications for 2,000 people. The number quickly grew to 7,000 as the Cajun Dome filled. Merck & Co., Inc. and IVAX Corporation told Premier contacts that these supplies are on their way. Requests for waterless hand sanitizers and wipes, wash cloths, textiles, bed-in-a-bag, telemetry equipment and IV pumps have been delivered. Cardinal Health, Inc. is providing cleaning supplies and toiletries.

As Katrina victims began leaving impacted areas to shelters in other parts of the country, the work of the Premier team has shifted to supporting members in areas receiving disaster evacuees:

--The Houston Astrodome evacuee care is being managed by Harris County Hospital District. Contacts at that site have received several deliveries of much-needed waterless hand sanitizer. Abbott Laboratories has shipped $150,000 worth of adult and pediatric nutritionals at no charge. Fisher Scientific International is donating 1,000 anti-bacterial wipes and waterless hand cleanser. Premier's Leigh Ann Myers, RN, is onsite in the Astrodome providing nursing care and facilitating the delivery and distribution of medical supplies.

--St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston is requesting additional stock of syringes, diapers and antiseptics for temporary Astrodome residents. Cardinal Health, Inc. worked through St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, the American Red Cross and FEMA to get those supplies delivered.

--Talecris BioTherapeutics, Inc. has shipped an emergency supply of 5,000 grams of Gamunex IVIG to Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA) hospitals that are receiving patients from New Orleans.

--Baxter BioScience has shipped vials of pediatric albumin to CHCA facilities via distributor FFF Enterprises.

--Abbott Laboratories has shipped a donation of $150,000 worth of pediatric and adult nutritionals to Houston-area facilities.

--Medline Industries, Inc. sent the following to Reliant Park Arena: 3 cases wipes (18 packs per case), 4 cases 14-pack bath-in-a-bag, 120 sheets, 120 towels, 120 wash cloths, 400 scrubs, 20 cases of 1,000 per case examination gloves, 900 face masks, 15 IV poles, 25 blood pressure cuffs and 10 sphygmomanometers Complete Kits.

--In response to a request by Premier, Philips Medical Systems North America Company sent pulse oximetry units, automatic external defribullators, and defribullators to St. Luke's for use at the Astrodome; and Medtronic, Inc. delivered automatic external defribullators, defribullators and pacemakers to the same location.

Premier formed the disaster response team in response to the 9/11 to support Premier organizations impacted by large-scale emergencies. Even as the work of the Disaster Support Team continues, Premier has already begun to look down the road. Another committee has begun work to assess the long-term implications of the disaster.

Premier has established a link on its Web site - www.premierinc.com - for information about its disaster relief efforts. Premier member hospitals with needs associated with Katrina and contracted suppliers who have supplies and equipment affected hospitals could use can send their lists to [e-mail] and Premier and will follow up.

The Premier Safety Institute's Emergency and Public Health Preparedness page - http://www.premierinc.com/all/safety/public-health/ - also contains relevant and timely news and resources about public health and issues.