Family physicians provide vital flood help
One of the biggest problems facing family physicians in flood-ravaged Grand Forks, ND, is lack of water.
Despite the fact that the Red River has left its mark all over the area, fresh water for washing and drinking is in short supply.
"It was just mind-boggling that here we had water as far as you could see, yet none of it could be used," says former AAFP Director Dale Moquist, MD, of Grand Forks.
"We had to evacuate our hospital because we had no running water," says Grand Forks United Hospital's Chief of Staff Charlotte Hovet, MD. "We couldn't wash, couldn't drink, couldn't flush the toilets. We realized you can't run a hospital without water. Although the hospital was protected from the flood by a dike, the high water blocked the ways in and out. We had to evacuate."
Over the April 19-20 weekend, 197 hospital patients and more than 400 nursing home residents were either discharged or moved to surrounding hospitals by land and air.
"The second the call went out that we needed ambulances to move patients, our parking lot was filled with them. Small town nursing homes and hospitals were making room to take our patients. People have been more than willing to help out during this crisis," Dr. Hovet says.
On April 19, patients who could be sent to hospitals in North Dakota were transported by ambulance. The problem was what to do with patients who needed to go across the river to Minnesota.
"We lost the link to Minnesota when the bridge was closed. So critical patients and all patients who had to go home to Minnesota got helicopter rides from the National Guard and the U.S. Air Force," Dr. Moquist says. Patients were distributed across North Dakota and as far south as Minneapolis and Iowa.
Even though the hospital and family medicine clinic were closed, family physicians were still helping patients. Displaced physicians and medical personnel set up satellite clinics in surrounding towns. Limited 24-hour telephone triage was set up to give patients access to some type of health care.
"Primary care people have been really busy here," Dr. Hovet says. "Family physicians have really been out there trying to meet the more urgent demands of the population."
Dr. Hovet says some of the most common problems treated were anxiety, stress, and minor injuries from sandbagging or moving heavy, water-logged carpets. She says they expect to see more allergic reactions as the mildew and mold begin to take hold during cleanup. No flood-related deaths have been reported.
"We've given thousands of tetanus shots," says Dr. Moquist. "This has been quite a year--we've had eight blizzards and a flood. It was really ironic that during the worst blizzard of the year, my sump pump was running and I was sandbagging homes."
Slowly, the area seems to be recovering. People are moving back. The hospital and emergency room reopened May 9. The family medicine clinic reopened May 12. Both had minimal water damage.
The most important example family physicians can set during a crisis is to be positive role models for the community, Dr. Hovet says.
"A medical community with a healthy attitude really sets the tone," she says. "When the clinic and the hospital closed it was a real blow to the community. But we're certain we'll be back. We know we will rebuild."
A National Guard helicopter kicks up dust while landing to help evacuate patients at Grand Forks United Hospital. (Photo by Pat Moore, MD)
- FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.