Medical outreach following a remote disaster: Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina

Authors

  • Anne Lang Dunlop, MD, MPH
  • Alexander P. Isakov, MD, MPH
  • Michael T. Compton, MD, MPH
  • Melissa White, MD, MPH
  • Hogai Nassery, MD
  • Erica Frank, MD, MPH
  • Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2007.0021

Keywords:

disaster, evacuation, evacuees, healthcare needs, community response

Abstract

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many individuals were evacuated to the Atlanta area (1,306 medical evacuees, over 100,000 self-evacuees), placing considerable strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. With the aim of improving future disaster responsiveness, we designed this in-depth case study to identify systemic vulnerabilities and gaps in community responsiveness to an influx of evacuees from a remote disaster. Qualitative methods were used to interview key informants both individually and in focus groups. Coding and content analysis of transcribed interview data were used to identify shared observations and common themes. Twenty-three individuals in leadership roles at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University or the Grady Health System completed individual interviews; an additional 24 healthcare providers participated in focus groups. A strategy-based data-coding scheme for interview data was used to identify key foci, including services that met needs of evacuees, unmet needs, service provision that was successful/unsuccessful, underlying reasons for success or failure, and future needs for disaster planning and responsiveness. Analysis of interview data revealed important accomplishments and deficits in the medical community’s response in specific domains of community disaster planning and evaluation. For each key component of community disaster planning and evaluation, there are considerations at the institutional, regional, state, and federal levels. In the current study, these considerations were identified as instrumental in effectively meeting the healthcare needs of the evacuated population.

Author Biographies

Anne Lang Dunlop, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Alexander P. Isakov, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Michael T. Compton, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Melissa White, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Hogai Nassery, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

Erica Frank, MD, MPH

Professor, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH

Professor, Department of Behavioral Science & Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

References

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Berkowitz S: Analyzing qualitative data. In Frechtling J, Sharp L (eds.): User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations. National Science Foundation, Directorate of Education and Human Resources Web site. Available at www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/REC/pubs/NSF97-153/CHAP_4.HTM. Accessed January 6, 2006.

Published

05/01/2007

How to Cite

Dunlop, MD, MPH, A. L., A. P. Isakov, MD, MPH, M. T. Compton, MD, MPH, M. White, MD, MPH, H. Nassery, MD, E. Frank, MD, MPH, and K. Glanz, PhD, MPH. “Medical Outreach Following a Remote Disaster: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 2, no. 3, May 2007, pp. 121-32, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2007.0021.

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Section

Articles