Subsequent to the disastrous hurricane seasons
of 2004 and 2005, dialysis and transplant facilities, patient and professional
organizations, and other strategic partners recognized the need to improve
planning and preparation for kidney patients in times of emergencies.
In November 2005, this group identified and
partnered with other key organizations, forming the Florida Kidney Disaster
Coalition (FKDC). The Coalition is comprised of healthcare professionals
and partners in the renal care community including utility companies,
emergency operations personnel, regulatory agencies and corporations.
By uniting, the Coalition is forming working
relationships to help provide uninterrupted dialysis and transplant
care in the event of disasters. The Coalition has four key priority
areas: education, coordination, communication and emergency operations
center (EOC) involvement.
In order to align with state and federal priorities
and policies, FKDC takes an “All Hazards” approach to disaster preparedness
and seeks to provide education and resources that will advance a culture
of preparedness related to all emergency situations that may occur.
