PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES AT A MEDICAL SITE AFTER HURRICANE-ANDREW

The experiences of a group of volunteer clinical pharmacists who provi ded pharmacy services as part of a disaster relief effort following a hurricane are reported. Hurricane Andrew left many people in southern Florida without shelter and other basic necessities, including health care services. A group of seven pharmacists volunteered to provide ser vices at a temporary medical site set up in a community center. The ph armacy stock consisted of donated drugs. The pharmacists dispensed med ications directly to patients and worked closely with other volunteer medical personnel to make sure proper medications were used. Because t he pharmacy stock was limited, physicians relied upon the pharmacists for information about therapeutic interchanges, dosage conversions, an d new medications. Prescriptions were often ordered and dispensed with only oral instructions. The pharmacists also provided patient counsel ing, although problems caused by inexperience with certain types of pa tients, a language barrier, and substandard living condition after the hurricane made counseling more difficult. The contributions of seven pharmacists who provided services at an emergency medical site after H urricane Andrew were well received by other health care personnel and by the community.