DEMOGRAPHICS Disability Communities SETRAC South East Texas Regional

DEMOGRAPHICS Disability Communities SETRAC South East Texas Regional Advisory Council

Organizations • SETRAC – South East Texas Regional Advisory Council • RHPC – Regional Hospital Preparedness Council • CMOC – Catastrophic Medical Operations Center

The SETRAC Region • 9 counties • Would be the 36 th largest state in US • Slightly larger than Israel • 22 nd largest economy in world

The SETRAC Region As of 2009, SETRAC has 4 FTE dedicated to Emergency Preparedness for the region: • Acute Care Manager • Non-Acute Care Manager • EMS / Transportation Manager • Information Technology Manager

The CMOC Region 18 Counties 177 cities 6. 3 Million* (27%) 877, 000 with disabilities* (24%) 120+ hospitals 500+ nursing homes

The CMOC Mission • Identify and meet the healthcare needs of the region • Protect and maintain medical infrastructure of all regional healthcare facilities • Provide appropriate transfer to healthcare facilities based on capacity and capability • Coordinate unique requirements of “special needs” population • Maintain patient tracking records

The Reasons Tropical Storm Allison 2001

The Reasons Hurricane Katrina 2005 Largest Patient Reception in US History

The Reasons Hurricane Rita 2005 Largest Mass Evacuation in US History

The Reasons 2008 Hurricane Season Largest EMS Deployment in US History

How do we IMPROVE? !?

Identifying Special Needs • Home health care • Hospital discharge • Church and faithbased organizations • HOA’s • Community leaders • Healthcare for the Homeless

Reaching Out • SETRAC/RHPC work with participating hospitals in reaching out to individuals through their trusted support systems. • This information is distributed year round, not just during Hurricane Season • Participation – ESRD Network – Childrens Case Management Coalition – Care for Elders

Reaching Out • SETRAC, along with local OEM physically reach out to the at risk populations for the purposes of education and preparedness. • Work with local EMC to identify special needs individuals in their jurisdiction – Iron Lung – Bariatrics • At Risk Packets have been given to all hospitals to give to individuals upon discharge

Reaching Out • Preparedness Information is given to Social Workers, Case Managers and Discharge workers • Many hospitals have workgroups with their Clinical Liaisons to bring info back to the families

Reaching Out • 2 -1 -1 Transportation Assistance Registry – All Hazards • Vests, Fanny Packs • Partnerships – ESPN – Deaf Task Force – DADS/DARS – Together Against the Weather

Road Blocks… • Trust / Privacy – Doctors – Churches – Mistrust of Government • Communication – How do the prepardness efforts reach these individuals • Personal Reasons – Do not want to leave home – Do not want to leave pets – Fear from the previous incidents

Disparity Between Assumption and Reality…

Going Forward… MORE REACHING … MORE TEACHING … MORE PLANNING… MORE PREPARING

QUESTIONS? ? ? Niky Smith Non-Acute Care Manager SETRAC niky. smith@setrac. org 281 -822 -4444