Earthquake Victims Have Long Term Needs

My career in health care has bridged both acute care and long term care. As I watch the rescue and emergency care efforts on TV in Haiti, my perspective on care across the continuum causes me to anticipate what the long term care needs of the survivors will be. With the crushing injuries that are evident with survivors, and the resulting amputations, there will be need for prosethetics and for rehabilitation.

The health care needs of the earthquake victims will be tremendous and ongoing. When we see a person pulled from the rubble on the cable news, that's just the beginning of the rescue mission. Next comes the need to address their injuries with IV fluids, surgery, medication, and lots of nursing care. Then comes rehabilitation. If they are debilitated or have suffered the loss of a limb, they need to strengthened and taught to adapt to their new reality.

A search of the web reveals a center for rehabiliation in Deyang City specifically for earthquake victims in the Sichuan region of China. This may serve as a model for what will be needed in future months and years. Read more about the Hong Kong Red Cross Centre for Rehab and Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Added to the physical needs of these victims are the enormous emotional consequences of living through such a disaster. The social fabric of many family units and neighborhoods have been torn apart, and will need to be replaced by new support systems. The work is just beginning. Unfortunately, the road to recovery will be long-- for the victims, and for the country. It is important that once the news cycle of the urgent needs passes, that attention continue to be paid to the continued needs of those we began to help. We need to see it through...

Continuing Care InSite is the blog of Joseph Tomaino, who assists his clients with smart approaches to improving continuing care organizations. He can be reached at jtomaino@continuingcareinsite.info