Hurricane Katrina: pharmacists reflect on lessons learned.

Hurricane Katrina presented many challenges for pharmacists serving long term care facilities. Pharmacists, who went the extra mile to maintain contact with residents and staff during the evacuation, enabled their elderly patients to receive medications accurately and without interruption. These pharmacy professionals also won the loyalty and respect of their facilities. At the same time, they learned much about preparation, keys to successful evacuation, effective emergency communication techniques, and the best ways to use technology in an emergency.