Improving Hurricane Preparedness for Home-Bound Patients

UTMB’s Jennifer Young and Jessica den Herder were highlighted for their work to help home-bound patients prepare for hurricanes. “We realized if [our home-bound patients] were having a difficult time going to the clinic, they’re going to have a difficult time evacuating [during an emergency],” Ms den Herder told The Clinical Advisor.

With funding from the UTMB President’s Cabinet Award, a team of Nurse Practitioners from the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine-Geriatrics House Calls Program launched a project to improve awareness of resources for emergency planning and distribution of essential emergency supplies. 

Through their efforts, the registration of home-bound older patients for the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) increased by 227% over a 5-month period.

Education focused on planning for both evacuations and sheltering-in-place; planning supply kits; and identifying emergency contacts, medication lists, medical equipment needs, and necessary identification band information. Sample hurricane emergency kits were provided.

Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Young received the Excellence in Community Service National Award from the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) of America as a result of this work.

Read more at ClinicalAdvisor.com.