FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Contact: Leah C. Payne, Director of Public Affairs, Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, 304-691-1713; Ginny Painter, Senior Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Marshall University deploys medical team to flood-ravaged Greenbrier County
Mobile unit will be stationed in Rainelle; President Gilbert to visit operation Friday

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — At least two dozen medical volunteers from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Marshall Health and Cabell Huntington Hospital are enroute to Rainelle, West Virginia, where they will deliver medical care and counseling services to victims of last week’s historic flooding.

The Marshall team will set up a temporary clinic in Rainelle at the National Guard Armory across from the Rainelle Medical Center. It will be staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by physicians, pharmacists, medical residents, pharmacy and medical students, counselors and nurses.

The operation is being coordinated through the school of medicine’s Marshall Medical Outreach (MMO) program, a student-led initiative that provides mobile medical care to the homeless in the city of Huntington.

Charles “Chuck” Clements, M.D., professor of family and community health and faculty advisor for MMO, says the effort will be divided into two separate phases.

“This initial phase will focus on the acute health care needs associated with this type of disaster,” Clements said.  “Wound assessment and treatment, tetanus vaccines, [and] writing prescriptions for those individuals who lost their medicines during the flood are the imminent issues to address at this point.  Beginning Sunday, we will reassess and revise the operation to deal with the longer term issues associated with floods like contaminated water disease and mosquito-related issues.”

Marshall Medical Outreach is sending two mobile units to the site and will also make use of temporary tents to see patients.  Cabell Huntington Hospital is donating needed medical supplies to the effort in Rainelle, which was identified as a high priority area.

“We’ve been working with state and local agencies to pinpoint where our services would be most beneficial,” said Brian Gallagher, R.Ph., J.D., director of pharmacy services and chief of government relations and health care policy for Marshall Health. “At this point, we will be stationed at Rainelle, but we are flexible and ready to move to any area that needs our help.”

Marshall President Jerome “Jerry” Gilbert is scheduled to visit the operation at 10 a.m., Friday, July 1.

“Marshall’s commitment to West Virginia is always apparent, but never more so than in a time of need like this,” Gilbert said. “I am proud of all the members of the Herd community who have stepped up to help.”

The university’s response to the disaster to date has included supply drives by Marshall University Athletics, the Women’s Center and Women’s Studies program; drop-off stations around the main and health science campuses and now the Marshall Medical Outreach efforts.

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Date Posted: Thursday, June 30, 2016