FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Disaster Support Launched

Houston, TX - September 22, 2008 - Hospitals and communities who’ve come to rely on Schumacher Group for emergency services year-round find themselves no less advantaged during natural disasters.

The company marshaled a new initiative called DART, or Disaster Assistance Response Team, just in time for back-to-back hurricanes hitting Louisiana and Texas. Within days of announcing the effort, the company deployed some half dozen experienced physicians out into storm-affected facilities where additional staffing was needed.

DART Clinical Team Leader Stephen Nichols, MD, was among those on a five-day reassignment as part of the rapid response team.

“The Gulf Coast is no stranger to weathering active hurricane seasons and our physicians respond instinctively to wanting to help,” he said of rapidly gathered signups. “What better way to give of oneself than be of community service where patients and colleagues need the support?”

Nichols invited DART participation by a letter and email blast initially to physicians throughout Texas , where greatest interest continues to mount. The company is now expanding the effort to other regions.

Membership in DART requires that volunteering physicians have a minimum of two years experience in medium to large volume Emergency Departments, although most providers have more. Members must have completed a residency in emergency medicine, internal medicine or family practice and maintain board certification in a specialty, in addition to being ED boarded or otherwise having maintained adult, pediatric and cardiac life support training. Each undergoes DART orientation and training and agrees to continued medical education on related subjects.

The point is to provide experienced providers in disaster-affected areas to meet emergency department volume surges, supplement staff shortages perhaps caused by disasters, and provide relief for existing providers on duty. Deployment can be for any disaster - hurricanes, fires, floods or otherwise. “Whatever the need within our facilities, we want to be there,” echoed company President and Chief Medical Officer Randy Pilgrim, MD, who himself rallied providers to get temporary privileges in parts of Louisiana struck by Hurricane Gustav. “It’s about supporting and extending the Schumacher Group mission of delivering quality care to our patients.”

Working with Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital personnel, Pilgrim received authorization to gather and transmit government-issued IDs directly to DHH for work assignments much quicker than otherwise. He credited DHH leadership with insight into the pressing public need, and Schumacher Group providers who answered the call from many states.

For more information on DART, call 1-888-890-3181.

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