News Releases for November 2005
November 8, 2005
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven: North Dakota Nurses Headed To Louisiana
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced a team of North Dakota nurses will spend two weeks working in a New Orleans clinic. The nurses will help fill an acute shortage of health-care professionals at the Ochsner Medical Foundation.
“We were notified last week that Louisiana was in need of nurses, and within days, a North Dakota team had stepped up and was ready to go,” Hoeven said. “North Dakota is proud to lend a helping hand, assisting hurricane survivors as they rebuild their lives.”
Team members include Kari Wahlen, a licensed practical nurse at Custer District Health Unit in Mandan; Jean Marohl, a registered nurse at Fargo Cass Public Health in Fargo; Allan Meckle, a licensed practical nurse at Heart of America Hospital in Rugby; and Virginia “Dale” Stearns, a registered nurse at Innovis Hospital in Fargo.
“These nurses will help fill a critical shortage of personnel at Ochsner,” said Dr. Terry Dwelle, State Health Officer. “Their expertise and extra assistance will help increase the amount of patients they can treat as this area starts to rebuild and get back on their feet.” The State Operations Center at the Department of Emergency Services (DES) received notification last week that a medical team was needed. DES staff worked with Tim Wiedrich, the N.D. Department of Health (DoH) Emergency Preparedness and Response Section Chief, who coordinated efforts to assemble the team.
The request originated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an interstate compact that coordinates resource requests and processes nationwide offers of assistance to help hurricane impacted states.
For more information about EMAC, visit the Web site at www.emacweb.org. Information on organizations accepting donated services, resources or funds can be found on the DES Web site at www.nd.gov/des.
E-mail comments to the Governor
