WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-related healthcare disruptions, Rx Open, an online resource for finding open pharmacies and dialysis facilities, has been activated nationwide by Healthcare Ready, a preparedness and response nonprofit working with public and private sectors to strengthen healthcare systems before, during, and after disasters.
Until this week, Rx Open has only been used during hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters; for the first time in its 12-year history, the website is now being activated nationally, reporting the status of pharmacies across the United States. Through the support of the AmerisourceBergen Foundation, dialysis centers are also being tracked on the map for the first time.
“It’s completely unprecedented to activate Rx Open at this scale, but we knew that this tool Healthcare Ready created to respond to regional disasters could help patients and healthcare partners during this national crisis,” said Dr. Nicolette Louissaint, Executive Director of Healthcare Ready. “We hope that empowering patients and emergency managers to more easily identify open pharmacies and dialysis centers takes some strain off the system as a whole and provides critical information to local communities.”
Since it was created in 2008, Rx Open has been activated for all major disasters impacting the United States including:
- 2020 Nashville tornadoes
- 2019 California wildfires
- 2019 Hurricane season (Dorian)
- 2018 California wildfires
- 2018 Hurricane season (Florence and Michael)
- 2017 Hurricane season (Harvey, Irma, Maria)
- 2016 Baton Rouge Flooding
- 2012 Hurricane season (Sandy)
- 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornadoes
Rx Open is made possible through generous support from the AmerisourceBergen Foundation and through partnerships with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Council on Prescription Drug Programs, and the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition.
About Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready is a preparedness and response nonprofit organization that helps to strengthen healthcare supply chains through collaboration with public health and private sectors by addressing pressing issues before, during, and after disasters. As a convener of industry and government, the organization safeguards patient health by providing solutions to critical problems and best practices for healthcare preparedness and response. Learn more at HealthcareReady.org and follow @HC_Ready.
