Medical options in Florida area expand a week after Hurricane Michael: 5 things to know

Hospitals in Panama City, Fla., and the state health department have expanded medical care options since Hurricane Michael, The News Herald reported.

Five things to know:

1. Bob Bush, vice president for physician services at Bay Medical Sacred Heart in Panama City, told the News Herald the hospital opened clinics at undamaged locations in Panama City Beach. That includes Bay Medical Family Practice in Magnolia Plaza and Bay Medical Family Practice Ocean Park.

"We've taken all of our primary care providers and surgeons that have been displaced and are rotating them in Panama City Beach. We are open to anyone, not just our patients," said Mr. Bush.

2. The clinics, which serve privately insured, Medicare and Medicaid patients, are open Monday through Saturday. They offer primary care physicians, as well as services such as flu shots, tetanus shots, general surgeries, obstetrics and orthopedic surgeries, according to Mr. Bush. Patients may also refill their medications at the hospital and clinics if they aren't narcotics.

3. Bay Medical's main emergency room in Panama City and its freestanding emergency room in Panama City Beach also remain open.

4. Heather Kretzer, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health in Bay County, told the News Herald her office offers tetanus shots for people with cuts or open wounds from hurricane cleanup, as well as vaccines for hepatitis A, "if they've been in floodwaters or plan to go into floodwaters."

Additionally, the main health department office offers emergency diabetes supplies, and Ms. Kretzer disclosed plans for the health department to partner with nonprofit Americares for primary care and pharmacy services.

5. Panama City-based Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center's emergency room remains open, and the medical center has a federal disaster medical assistance team on-site, according to the report.

Access the full report here.  

 

More articles on patient flow:

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More hospitals cut obstetrics as deliveries decline

 

 

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