NEED: People available to come in if necessary. Those scheduled until 1700 to come in.

 Hello all,

 As of 1200 today, we are seeing a fair volume this morning (this is in fact the busiest it has been). The decision has been made (by those above my pay grade) to suspend the formal medical treatment as of about 1600 today (this decision was just made).

The shelter component will likely be going on for another week, depending on how long there is need for it. Some of the South Texas evacuees will be leaving today. Louisiana has not given the green light for people to return there, and we do not know when that will be. Most of the people in the Dallas Convention Center are from South Texas.

Dr. Fowler will continue here from 0800-1700 providing medical care. EMS will be here 24/7.

For mental health services, both Transicare and Adapt Mobile Crisis will continue here 24/7. I will be on site for approximately 2 hours per day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (unless someone else wishes to volunteer to do this). I was planning on being here midday, and being available by phone all day. We plan on using the Dallas MetroCare Crisis Clinic if necessary for evening coverage (thank you in advance Dr’s Graves and Baker).

 I would greatly appreciate people being available if necessary to come in.
Hopefully demand will be light, and the abovementioned contingencies will be adequate.

 I anticipate that psychiatric coverage will be needed until 1700 tonight. If you have signed up to come in before that time, please either come down to the Convention Center, or call me on my cell  (not posted on web version) before leaving to come down. Any scheduled to arrive after 1700 tonight will not need to come in.
 

I realize that this was a rather rapid change in plans, but such is the nature of emergency response.

I cannot be more grateful for the massive amount of support that our local mental health community has supplied.

Hurricane Ike is the next major storm that could affect our area. It is due to be trackable at the 120 hour forecast on about Saturday this week. I will still be sending out updates after this one, but as this was major news, I wanted to get this out quickly.

 Again thank you for all of your hard work and flexibility and cooperation.

 Frank Webster, MD

 Medical Director, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Parkland Memorial Hospital/UT Southwestern

Medical Director, Integrated Crisis Services, Green Oaks Hospital