A new GAO report recommends that the Department of Homeland Security “clearly delineate” how the federal government will provide assistance to state and local governments during the evacuation of patients from hospitals and nursing homes and how it will address the needs of patients during evacuations, including making relocation arrangements. The difficulties faced by hospital and nursing home administrators in transporting patients during Hurricane Katrina has called into question the role of the federal government in lending evacuation assistance. Currently, the National Disaster Medical System steps in only when patients have already been moved to a mobilization center, such as an airport, and, therefore, does not help with removing patients from facilities. The NDMS also is limited to evacuating patients requiring hospitalization and doesn’t include nursing home residents. Although state and local governments bear the primary responsibility for evacuating patients, the federal government should become involved when capabilities are overwhelmed, DHS confirmed. All of the NDMS federal partners--DHS, the Department of Defense, HHS, and Veterans Affairs--are currently reviewing the NDMS to clarify its roles and responsibilities, the GAO report states.
