Hey Everyone,

This is Michael K writing from Algiers in New Orleans. We have had a tremendous outpouring of support, in terms of materials and spirit, from from folks in the immediate community, the local region, and nation-wide. The clinic is up and running full steam, and we're seeing lots of patients. We're providing everything we can think of--from herbalism, accupuncture, and counseling, to full medical support. We have an incredibly well stocked formulary, with a huge number of medications, glucometers, you name it. Most of the patients with medical problems are coming in having run out of meds, and we've seen diabetics with sugars over 400 and folks with hypertension with SBPs greater than 200. We've been able to give most everyone the medications that they've been taking, and for those who have medication needs that we can't provide, we've arranged transport to the county hospital/pharmacy...Since this is such an underserved area, we're seeing people who havn't had any primary medical care for years, and we're getting them plugged in...We have folks following up with us, and we're even doing home visits on bikes. We have grand plans to extend into satellite clinics, and hopefully to get across the river into the 9th ward and to start a clinic over there too...

The main concern now is for medical personal who can prescribe meds. Under the Louisiana state of emergency, all MDs who have active medical licenses in their home state have instant prescribing privileges here in Louisiana--simply bring copies of your license and DEA. I am not sure if this applies to NPs--could someone check on this? I will have to leave Saturday or Sunday, and at this time, I've been the only physician regularly working in the clinic...We desperately need a prescribing clinician to be able to commit to being here for a bit of time...We want to keep this clinic operation going, and maybe it will become the kernel for a much wider creation of grass-roots clinical mutual aid clinics in New Orleans and beyond, but we need folks!

If there's any MDs or NPs planning on coming to Louisiana soon, could you call me on the groundhere?

thanks

michael k

BAY AREA RADICAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE

415-702-5872

homepage: homepage: http://barhc.w2c.net/

phone: phone: 415-702-5872