Preparing for the Next Disaster: Dialysis Community Briefs Hill About Emergency Response

Preparing for the Next Disaster: Dialysis Community Briefs Hill About Emergency Response

"Dialysis patients represent one of the most at risk segments of the population during a natural disaster," said Bill Numbers, Vice President of Operations Support and Incident Commander for Disaster Planning and Response at Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA).

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) February 26, 2009 -- "Dialysis patients represent one of the most at risk segments of the population during a natural disaster," said Bill Numbers, Vice President of Operations Support and Incident Commander for Disaster Planning and Response at Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA). Numbers was in Washington to speak with an audience of congressional staffers focused on safeguarding the lives of dialysis patients in a natural disaster. The event, said Numbers, should remind everyone that "we always need to be ready and we must constantly work to be better prepared."

The briefing organized by the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (www.KCERcoalition.com) and Fresenius Medical Care (www.ultracare-dialysis.com) looked at the problem of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) as well as ongoing emergency response and recovery efforts. With CKD rates skyrocketing, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Executive VP for FMCNA, Dr. Michael Lazarus explained that educating the public, policy-makers, and emergency response teams is more important than ever. Looking at data for the period between 1997 and 2006, Lazarus pointed to across-the-board increases in CKD rates:

•    106% for Hispanic Americans.

•    98% for Asian Americans.

•    55% for Native Americans.

•    49% for African Americans.

•    42% for Caucasians.

Since Kidney patients typically need four hours of dialysis three days each week in order to eliminate waste, toxins and extra fluids from their system, these increases also underscore the need for emergency planning. Any interruption caused by storms, floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters that might affect electrical power, water lines or make routine travel impractical is life-threatening.

Thinking ahead is even more important than ever. "We're lucky that the dialysis community and emergency responders are working together to prevent the loss of lives," said Bill Numbers. "We simply need to ensure that we are doing everything we can, including educating the public."

Since March is National Kidney Month, briefing organizers hope to focus attention on the impact of natural disasters on dialysis patients. They also want the public to know what is already being done. Kelly Mayo, Project Director, Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition, spoke about her organization's work with dialysis providers around the country. And Numbers described the evolution of FMCNA's response and recovery efforts, beginning with the Northeast power outage in 2003 through Hurricane Ike and Gustav. In 2008, Numbers said over 100 clinics and 8000 patients were affected during the 3 hurricanes in August through September 2008. During that time, Fresenius provided care to more than 500 non-Fresenius patients and brought in 4 large generators and diesel fuel to supplement local alternative power in Houston and Beaumont communities.

Reflecting on the importance of response and recovery efforts by Fresenius, KCER, and others, Bill Numbers said:

"We are committed to doing this whenever we have to and at whatever the cost. When it comes to dialysis patients, they have no options in a disaster. It is a huge responsibility to safeguard the lives of these individuals and families. And we will continue to work with government and other health providers to prevent the loss of life."

Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition (KCER) mission is to collaboratively develop, disseminate, implement and maintain a coordinated preparedness and response framework for the kidney community in the event of any type of emergency or disaster. The KCER Coalition membership is open to anyone. To join the Coalition, visit our website and download a contact card or e-mail kcer(at)network7(dot)esrd(dot)net. Emergency preparedness resources and information on the KCER's current activities can be found on their website, www.KCERcoalition.com.

Fresenius Medical Care (FMCNA) is the world's largest integrated provider of products and services for individuals undergoing dialysis because of chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1.6 million individuals worldwide. Through its network of 2,297 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 177,059 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's leading provider of dialysis products such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FME, FME3) and the New York Stock Exchange (FMS, FMS/P). More information can be found at: www.ultracare-dialysis.com.

Contact:

David Shapinsky

202-302-4904

dshapinsky(at)obassociates(dot)net

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Contact Information David Shapinsky

http://www.ultracare-dialysis.com

202-302-4904

Susan Torroella Joins MEDEX Global Group as COO

Susan Torroella Joins MEDEX Global Group as COO

Veteran Healthcare Executive Brings New Leadership to Management Team

Baltimore, MD (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 26, 2009 - MEDEX Global Group (www.medexassist.com), a leading provider of travel, security and medical assistance today announced the addition of Susan Torroella as Chief Operating Officer. Torroella joins MEDEX from Columbia MedCom Group, where she was CEO for seven years. Charged with leading the expanding company's 24-hour, global operations, Torroella brings with her more than 20 years of strategic management, marketing and sales experience in the health care industry.

"We are thrilled to welcome Susan to our team, as we plan for another growth year in 2009," states Bruce Kirby, President and CEO of MEDEX. "Her strategic leadership and management style will be extremely valuable, and her passion for excellence fits right in with our corporate culture."

"I'm excited to join such a dynamic company, and look forward to contributing to MEDEX's continued growth," says Torroella. "The constant flow of information and case activity at MEDEX keeps everyone on their toes and it's very evident that employees care about the work that they do and the people that they help."

Torroella has been widely recognized for her innovation and commitment to employees. Her former company was recognized in Baltimore Magazine's "Best Places to Work" in 2005 and 2007. Additionally, FORTUNE Small Business Magazine named Torroella as "Best Boss" and PharmaVoice identified her as one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Leaders in the life sciences industry.

Most recently, Torroella anticipated regulatory trends and reorganized Columbia MedCom Group into two legally distinct subsidiaries. She also led her executive management team in the purchase of the company under an employee stock ownership plan on behalf of all full-time employees to avoid acquisition.

Active in mentoring women in healthcare, Susan launched the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the Healthcare Business Woman's Association (HBA), the largest association of healthcare leaders worldwide. She now sits on their Global Board of Directors.

Her prior experience includes working in the pharmaceutical industry for Schering-Plough as Senior Marketing Manager and for USAID subcontractor John Snow, a public health care firm, managing programs for the health and well-being of women and children in West Africa.

Torroella holds a Bachelor's Degree from Franklin & Marshall College, and a Masters Degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She was awarded Thunderbird's Barton Kyle Yount Award given to the member of each graduating class who most exemplifies Yount's ideals of scholarship, accomplishment and character.

ABOUT MEDEX Global Group

MEDEX (www.medexassist.com) is the oldest and largest independently owned provider of global travel, security and medical assistance in North America. For more than 30 years, MEDEX has served corporations, scholastic institutions, government agencies, humanitarian organizations and individual business and leisure travelers. MEDEX services range from pre-trip intelligence and contingency planning to real-time medical case management and complex emergency evacuations.

Media contacts:

For interviews or more information, please contact Nicole Beach, 410-453-6391, or Josianne Pennington, 410-453-6364.

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Contact Information Nicole Beach

MEDEX Global Group Inc.

http://www.medexassist.com/

410-453-6391

Josianne Pennington

MEDEX Global Group Inc.

http://www.medexassist.com/

410-453-6364

LiveProcess to Exhibit at National Emergency Management Summit March 4-6 event is Leading Healthcare Forum on Disaster, Epidemic and Terrorism Planning, Response and Recovery

LiveProcess to Exhibit at National Emergency Management Summit March 4-6 event is Leading Healthcare Forum on Disaster, Epidemic and Terrorism Planning, Response and Recovery

LiveProcess, the market leader in web-based emergency preparedness and incident management solutions for healthcare, today announced that it will be exhibiting at and attending the Third National Emergency Management Summit at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel, March 4-6, 2009. The Summit is the leading forum on disaster, epidemic and terrorism planning, response and recovery for healthcare organizations.

Verona, NJ (PRWEB) February 26, 2009 -- LiveProcess, the market leader in web-based emergency preparedness and incident management solutions for healthcare, today announced that it will be exhibiting at and attending the Third National Emergency Management Summit at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel, March 4-6, 2009.

The Summit is the leading forum on disaster, epidemic and terrorism planning, response and recovery for healthcare organizations. An extraordinary confluence of events, both environmental and geopolitical, has created both a heightened risk and a heightened awareness of natural disasters, epidemics and terrorism in the United States. The National Emergency Management Summit seeks to assess these risks and articulate practical approaches to strategies for planning, response and recovery.

LiveProcess was established in the wake of the September 11th attacks and the worldwide SARS outbreak in response to widespread recognition that healthcare needed a better way to plan and respond to disasters. In 2003, LiveProcess launched its centralized, web-based disaster preparation and incident management platform the first of its kind for healthcare to help healthcare organizations prepare for and respond to both large- and small-scale emergencies and disasters. Today, it is the leader in emergency management for hospitals.

"This Summit provides practical solutions to hospital emergency management issues and is one of the best and most informative conferences for healthcare emergency managers," said Mitch Saruwatari, LiveProcess' vice president of Quality and Compliance. "LiveProcess is proud to be exhibiting at this event."

The purpose of the Summit is to increase knowledge on how emergency management professionals can best prepare for disasters (pandemic, terrorism, and infectious diseases), use scarce resources wisely, implement responses more effectively, and create new partnerships. Participants can expect to leave the conference with a better ability to assess readiness for natural disasters and pandemics, foster best practices through presentation of a variety of successful case studies from the field and explore the difficult legal and ethical issues that arise in emergency situations.

LiveProcess will present a brief case study on how technology can help improve healthcare emergency management programs during the Networking Luncheon on Thursday, March 5th.

LiveProcess is exhibiting at Booth #10 on Wednesday, March 4th and Thursday, March 5th. To arrange interviews with LiveProcess executives, please contact Paul Ruderman at 973-571-2500.

For more information on the Summit, call (800) 684-4549 or visit www.emergencymanagementsummit.com.

About LiveProcess:

The LiveProcess platform is used by hundreds of hospitals across the country. The American Hospital Association (AHA) has exclusively endorsed LiveProcess as the choice for disaster readiness and incident command solutions for its more than 5,000 member hospitals.

The LiveProcess platform provides hospitals, other healthcare providers and public health agencies with the ability to evaluate and manage their own preparedness and state of readiness, as well as coordinate response with other entities, from small incidents through large-scale healthcare emergencies. Its broad and growing range of fully-integrated tools include Hazard Vulnerability Analyses (HVAs), an integrated Incident Command System (ICS), NIMS Compliance activities, Drills for Readiness and Compliance, a real-time Event Log, and Competency-Based Training capabilities.

For more information on LiveProcess, please visit www.liveprocess.com.

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Contact Information Paul Ruderman

LiveProcess

http://www.liveprocess.com

973-571-2531