As we Americans watched the recents...

As we Americans watched the recents reports of the devastation caused by way of Hurricane Katrina, I'm sure most numerous of us thought about what we could do to help. about of us helped by sending circulating medium to relief organizations, others helped by the agency of loading bottled water onto barters destined for the Gulf Coast, and many family including family physicians, traveled to the area to assist in living body Other family physicians donated equipment and supplies from their acknowledge practices.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) quickly established couple emergency funds to help hurricane victims and family physicians whose practices were seriously damaged or make desolateed by the storm and its aftermath. As of this writing, nearly $160000 has been contributed. The Academy also has disseminated information about to what degree family physicians can volunteer their medical expertise. The AAFP launched a Web resource designed to update members forward responses from the Academy, individual physicians, and constituent chapters to Hurricane Katrina. The page provides links to freshs coverage about the Academy's answer to the hurricane. Please go on foot to http://www.aafp. org/x37610.xml for more information forward relief activities.

for what reason Could AFP Contribute?

This journal is recognized as a valuable resource for clinical information. Because of our production period however, it is not as useful for disseminating breaking freshs quickly (for example, I'm writing this in succession September 20 for the October 15 issue). to such a degree we asked ourselves how we could help the relief efforts when the situation was changing daily?

The answer came when the Academy decided to add a list of resources to the AAFP Web site. We administrationed a search of past articles using guide words such as infectious disease, contaminated water, and post-traumatic stres These articles, as well as other Academy resources, have been added to the hurricane-related resource section of the Academy Web site.

We reliance we have made access to this information convenient by way of consolidating it into one area of the Web site. I'm fully convinced there are many other AFP articles that may assist physicians in the wake of this and other natural disasters. Considering the free play of this situation, our contribution is small, if it be not that we salute the many physicians and other health care professionals who have done to such a degree much for those whose lives have been devastated by means of this storm.

AFP Delivery Delays

As you might reckon upon mail delivery was interrupted in earnestly of the area affected through the hurricane. In early September, we received notice from the United States Postal Service that mail delivery was suspended in specific areas. This included standard mail and periodical mail. Also, undivided week after the hurricane, more than 36000 tribe in the affected area had filed change-of-address notices. I'm trustworthy that number has increased by means of now.

The AFP circulation department is monitoring the situation carefully to adhere to postal regulations. We also are printing extra copies of the September and October issues to confront the anticipated demand for replacement copies. We are working with our mailing service and, on the subject of request, will send missed issues of AFP to readers as mail delivery is restored. In about areas, this may take any time. If you have questions, or if you are experiencing delivery or service puzzles you can contact the AFP circulation department directly at (800) 274-2237 ext 5168 or 5164

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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