McKesson Corporation, Vizient donations to Hurricane Harvey relief total well over $1 million
McKesson is allowing Red Cross to use warehouse space in Corpus Christi as staging location for their relief efforts, company said.
Texas National Guardsmen assist residents affected by flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey onto a military vehicle in Houston on Aug. 27. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Zachary West.
McKesson Corporation and the McKesson Foundation have announced a $100,000 commitment in financial support to nonprofit Direct Relief and $150,000 in-kind donation of medical supplies to World Vision. The donations will be used to help those in the Houston area displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
McKesson said they will also be matching employee donations made through the company's donation matching program. Their donations total more than $300,000, the company said in a statement.
McKesson Houston, Texas operations are significant, the company said, with warehouses in Conroe and Houston. They took steps to prepare for Hurricane Harvey, positioning extra employees at the company's neighboring facilities in in case customer orders were transferred due to operational issues in Conroe and Houston. The company also stocked extra inventory of key medications at their Texas warehouses and neighboring facilities.
McKesson's employees are also pitching in, with some delivering medications for premature babies to a local hospital's neonatal intensive care unit or personally delivering a new type of cancer medication to a hospitalized patient whose body was rejecting the current course of treatment. One McKesson pharmacist accessed his flooded pharmacy, and delivered salvageable medications by boat to patients in need, the company said.
[Also: MD Anderson cancels appointments; Memorial Hermann Sugar Land closes amid epic Harvey flooding]
"The current devastation in Houston is heartbreaking and it is clear that it will take a significant amount of leadership, compassion and teamwork to rebuild," said John Hammergren, chairman and CEO, McKesson. "With millions of individuals impacted by the storm and tens of thousands of residents still without shelter, it is our hope that McKesson's donations will help on-the-ground organizations and first-responders as they care for those in need."
McKesson has partnered with the Red Cross, allowing use of McKesson's warehouse space in Corpus Christi as a staging location for their relief efforts in the area. They have also provided general and medical supplies for temporary shelters in the Houston area, including diapers, baby food, insulin, drinks, and other food items, as well as food, drinks and miscellaneous supplies to the National Guard members stationed at Katy High School in Katy, TX.
[Also: Hurricane Harvey devastates critical access hospital, forces closure]
Vizient has also chipped in big to help Harvey disaster victims, donating more than a $1 million to help provide emergency relief to impacted healthcare employees of organizations in southern Texas and Louisiana.
Vizient offered to match employee donations 3:1 through Sept. 30, hence every dollar given yields $4 being contributed to Vizient hospital employees in need. Vizient's 3,000 employees raised more than $150,000 from their own pockets in 72 hours, and the company will kick in an additional $1 million in matching funds and contributions. The company has also collected more than $125,000 from members and suppliers.
"We have several member hospitals in South Texas and Louisiana that have been hit hard by this storm," says Curt Nonomaque, President and CEO, Vizient. "Several even had to evacuate patients and close some facilities. We wanted to mobilize as quickly as possible to give as much help as we could."
Vizient employees are also donating household goods, clothing and volunteering their time.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn
Email the writer: beth.sandborn@himssmedia.com
