Facilities safeguarded, inventory stockpiled, and company ready for emergency orders
Facilities safeguarded, inventory stockpiled, and company ready for emergency orders
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- McKesson Corporation, a leading distributor of medications and medical surgical supplies, is prepared to meet the needs of customers, employees and communities impacted by Hurricane Michael and its aftermath.
McKesson is experienced in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. McKesson has significant operations in the southeastern United States and has taken proactive steps to prepare for Hurricane Michael and its aftermath, despite the rapidity with which this storm developed. The company is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of healthcare organizations and communities during natural disasters because of its relationships with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, nursing homes, doctors and more.
Here are some of the ways McKesson is supporting customers, patients, and first responders who depend on access to medications and supplies, as well as our own employees, throughout Hurricane Michael and during the recovery.
Preparing McKesson facilities and operations for impacts of the storm
McKesson has warehouse and distribution operations in the areas of impact, including Florida, Atlanta, GA and more. To ensure service isn’t disrupted, McKesson has safeguarded all locations by providing satellite phones and back-up generators that will sustain full operations throughout the storm. Employees from other U.S. facilities are always on standby to travel and support relief efforts as needed.
In addition, the company has coordinated with specialty couriers to plan for the eventuality of emergency shipments. Based on McKesson’s experience in disaster preparedness, the company has increased on-hand inventory of medications, potable water, antibiotics, vaccines, insulin, dialysis equipment, and other supplies that are frequently needed following a storm at nearby warehouses and neighboring distribution centers.
Expanding support for customer and community needs
Before Hurricane Michael made landfall, McKesson representatives were busy doing outreach to pharmacy, clinic and hospital customers in impacted areas to emphasize the importance of being prepared by, for example, ensuring they have sufficient inventory and critical medications on hand in case of road closures or unpredictable delivery schedules.
Activating employee evacuation assistance grants
McKesson has activated the Get You to Safety grants, a part of the McKesson Taking Care of Our Own Fund. This grant is provided to McKesson employees who need to evacuate their residences during government-declared disasters. The grant assists employees with any evacuation-related costs such as food, water, shelter, clothing, transportation or medical assistance.
Helping patients find pharmacies open for business
RelayHealth Pharmacy Solutions, a unit of McKesson, is participating in Healthcare Ready’s Rx Open. This network helps patients find nearby pharmacies that are open for business in areas impacted by disaster. For the patient looking to fill an essential prescription in or nearby affected areas, this tool could be critical. RxOpen works by combining multiple sources of information from across the industry– including RelayHealth –and using Google Maps to display open pharmacies in the impacted area.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 6th on the FORTUNE 500, is a global leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. McKesson partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies, governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively. United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and partners more successful — all for the better health of patients. McKesson has been named the “Most Admired Company” in the healthcare wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a “Best Place to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by Military Friendly. For more information, visit www.mckesson.com
About The McKesson Foundation
Founded in 1943, the McKesson Foundation focuses on supporting McKesson employees’ community involvement efforts and cancer care. To maximize our impact, the Foundation invests in organizations that provide cancer support programs, providing care packages for patients through our Giving Comfort program, and growing and diversifying the international marrow registry through the McKesson Marrow Drive. For more information, please contact us at mckessonfoundation@mckesson.com.
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Source: McKesson Corporation