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| “We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” – George Bernard Shaw |
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OPEN is the Oncology Patient Emergency Network. Clearly, no one likes to think about what would happen following a wide-scale disaster, yet everyone should do so at some point. OPEN can assist you with this, and it takes just a few moments to enroll. Its benefits are many, starting with the peace of mind of knowing that even during emergencies oncology patients can continue to receive timely, life-saving treatments. OPEN includes:
- distribution of a “wallet card” with updated, critical information such as diagnosis, treatment and medications for patients to keep in their possession.
- facilitation of delivery of medicine to displaced patients and physician practices
- coordination of efforts with insurers & relief providers (FEMA, Red Cross, etc.)
To spare the trauma encountered by New Orleans’ cancer patients, everyone’s active participation truly is needed. OPEN provides a seamless, one-stop checkpoint for patients to access medical treatment and for physicians to continue to provide care in the middle of the most difficult of circumstances. Your peace of mind is our priority. |
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The Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) represents over 350 physicians and educational institutions throughout California as an advocate for the practicing oncologist and their patients. It is a leading oncology professional organization that advances and protects the ability of cancer patients to obtain, and the ability of the oncology physicians to provide, optimal cancer care, even in the midst of natural disasters. We are enlisting the participation of industry partners, the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, to join OPEN’s membership in this unique venture. |
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In 2005 Hurricane Katrina resulted in the displacement of large numbers of hematology/oncology patients, as well as medical practices. A great deal of time and resources were needed to help patients to locate hematology/oncology physicians for continuity of care. While some patients had treatments delayed, or did not receive their treatments at all, most were eventually able to get the care they needed with the help of relief organizations and community oncology practices throughout the country.
Recognizing that disasters are prone to occur in California, the Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) created an emergency master plan in 2006 and launched the Oncology Patient Emergency Network (OPEN) in 2007. Key to that plan is the creation of the OPEN card, a wallet-size card which patients carry with them and which contains critical and updated information such as their diagnosis, treatment and medications.