Preparation is key when it comes to hurricane season.
Here are three health-focused calls you need to make before the most active part of hurricane season starts:
Call No. 1 – Call your primary care provider (and your child’s pediatrician too!)
You’ll need to ask for an updated copy of your medications list.
If you evacuate for an extended period, you’ll need current prescriptions to get refills on any medications. While you’re on the phone, ask for a current copy of your vaccinations, too. This is essential in case you need to seek medical assistance while out of town.
Call No. 2 – Call any specialist doctors you may see for chronic conditions
It’s important to check in with any specialists who help manage any serious, chronic conditions – such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
For ESRD patients on dialysis, be sure to contact your center for emergency plan instructions.
By starting the conversation now, you’ll have a plan in place if you must evacuate and are unable to see your regular physician for an extended period. Share your evacuation plans with your specialist and ask for a list of recommended physicians to connect with based on your evacuation plans should you need medical assistance.
If you are pregnant and close to your due date or are considered high-risk, your OBGYN may recommend and help you identify an alternate birth location in the case of an evacuation.
Call No. 3 – Call your pharmacy
I recommend having at least a week’s supply of your regular medications with you in case of a mandatory evacuation or a scenario where you might be sheltering in place for an extended period.
Call your pharmacy in advance to see what medications you can get refills for. And don’t forget to confirm your pharmacy’s alternative locations in case of an evacuation.
We aren’t guaranteed a calm and uneventful hurricane season, so making sure you stay healthy during inclement weather is important!
Shanedolyn Grover, NP specializes in Family Medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La.
Prior to joining Ochsner, Shanedolyn worked as a registered nurse in various capacities such as Med/Surg and Telemetry Units for over eight years.
Additionally, Shanedolyn is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
To schedule an appointment with her at Ochsner Health Center- Destrehan (13100 River Road, Destrehan), call (985) 764-7669 or schedule online at www.ochsner.org.
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