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Title:

Systemic Collapse: Medical Care in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Authors:

Crystal Franco, Eric Toner, Richard Waldhorn, Beth Maldin, Tara O’Toole, Thomas V. Inglesby

Date posted:

June 15, 2006

Publication type:

Article

Publication:

Biosecur Bioterror 2006;4(2):135-146

Publisher:

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Availability:

Available on publisher's website

See also:

Full article as PDF

Introduction:

This article describes and analyzes key aspects of the medical response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It is based on interviews with individuals involved in the response and on analysis of published reports and news articles. Findings include: (1) federal, state, and local disaster plans did not include provisions for keeping hospitals functioning during a large-scale emergency; (2) the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) was ill-prepared for providing medical care to patients who needed it; (3) there was no coordinated system for recruiting, deploying, and managing volunteers; and (4) many Gulf Coast residents were separated from their medical records. The article makes recommendations for improvement.

Full article as PDF