September 20, 2005 -- Telephone Consultations Available to Clinicians, Patients

Clinicians and patients in areas affected by hurricane Katrina are being reminded that they can consult by telephone with experts in a wide range of medical specialties, including infectious diseases, tropical/geographical medicine, ophthalmology, oral medicine, psychiatry, cardiac/pulmonary diseases, genetic diseases, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric metabolism, cancer and adult endocrinology, and obstetrics/gynecology. A previously available information network, the “Medical Coordination and Referral for Healthcare Professionals Hotline,” operated jointly by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Association of American Medical Colleges, is expanding its services to help health care providers and patients who are dealing with difficult or complicated medical cases resulting from the hurricane. A call center that will refer callers to appropriate medical specialties is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at telephone number 1-866-887-2842.