Stats for 17 clinic days.

patients ...........................1174
medications given ............2346
scripts written .................. 214

  I am trying to capture comorbidity stats, so far:
72% hypertensive
46% diabetic.

A large number have been type II, insulin dependent diabetics. The other co morbidities we are following are:
glaucoma
asthma.

We are hearing repeated stories of patients out of meds for weeks to months and seeing blood sugars up to 657 and blood pressures up to 250/150 walk through the door.  These people are middle class in tragically greatly reduced circumstances.  Losing both employment and insurance they do not have previous experience negotiating the charity system and now with pre-existing conditions even if reemployed they are uninsurable.

Many of our patients fit the syndrome X profile of hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and obesity.  Routine meds for most include 2 -4 antihypertensive drugs, insulin plus 2 oral diabetic agents, chem strips, lancets, proton pump inhibitor and a statin.  Projected conservative monthly cost per patient at retail prices >$600.00 +

Our patients have neither experience nor comprehension of a system in which there is neither a referral network nor access to accepted labs or health care maintenance screening. It is our challenge to develop this system in a resource poor environment. We are receiving excellent cooperation from both the City of New Orleans Health Department and the State of Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

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International Medical Alliance (IMA) and Operation Blessing (OB) of Virginia Beach, VA, are starting and operating a free medical clinic and pharmacy “a la Long Beach at the Gulf Coast Worship Center” in northeast Orleans Parish, New Orleans. The projected opening date of a 2000 square foot mobile clinic, staffed entirely by volunteers, is March 15th, and it will likely be in operation for the remainder of 2006. It will be located at an easily recognizable site near Methodist Hospital, in an area flooded with six to ten feet of water, now only a vista of miles of ruined and ab andoned houses and buildings for the residents struggling to reclaim their lives.

Dorothy & I worked as primary care providers in the New Orleans Audubon Zoo Health Fair February 6–12th. The urgency of the health care crisis was exemplified by a 57 year old hypertensive, diabetic woman with both arrhythmia and aortic stenosis, examined by Dorothy. She suffered a complete cardiac arrest while sitting discussing her prescriptions. Fortunately paramedics were in the next room picking up another patient who was having chest pain; the first rhythm V fib was followed by asystole. After 3 shocks we had sinus rhythm, but she arrested again in the ambulance. She had been out of her cardiac, blood pressure and diabetic meds for over a month. She was our worse case scenario but there were many patients who waited in line for hours just to obtain their hypertensive and diabetic medications.

The need is tremendous in a population 30% poor and 35% uninsured. Only 1250 of the pre-storm 5000 hospital beds are open, and only 1270 of 4700 doctors have returned. Sixty-five percent of the population is projected to return by July 1st, most of who are middle-aged or elderly and sick, as FEMA is mandating the return of evacuees by canceling hotel room payments.

OB is funding the clinic building and furnishing logistical, housing and feeding support for volunteers, but IMA needs financial contributions for administrative, transportation expenses incident to volunteer coordination and movement, and funds for obtaining and shipping medical supplies, equipment and drugs. IMA is not receiving direct funding from OB. Please consider a donation. Donations are fully tax-deductible, necessary and worthy of your consideration in order to make this charitable enterprise a success.