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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Leslie Cooper, PhD, MPH, BSN, RN, NIH/NC.CRCHD/HPB, 6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 602, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-402-5557, lc58q@nih.gov, George Stevens, PE, MPH, Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, CDR, USPHS, 40 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85255, and Debra Y. Lewis, OD, Office of Orphan Products Development, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, (HF-35) Rm 6A-55, Rockville, MD 20857.

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast devastating the region and destroying much of the basic infrastructure in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Hurricane Katrina is the single most expensive hurricane to strike the United States in our history. Costs of recovery are estimated to be at least $75 Billion, and may exceed $120 Billion . To date, 1,599 people are confirmed dead, and another 1,900 are unaccounted for (as of 3/3/06) . Nearly 2.5 Million people were displaced by this event, as indicated by FEMA declarations for disaster assistance by area. A team of PHS officers were sent to assess and report the healthcare needs of the Greater New Orleans area and to preserve where possible the remaining healthcare infrastructure in the area. They encountered an overwhelming need to facilitate communications between responders regarding health care status (medical, dental, and mental) and health needs of the population, health history of the evacuees in the absence of an electronic medical record, and mobilization of volunteers without local credentialing. Ambulance crews did not have central dispatching, or know which facilities were operating or their capacity for receiving casualties. This panel will highlight some of the challenges faced by those responding to the disaster and the need for informatics and improved communications. The panel will address challenges faced by the health care system, the patient, providers, and volunteers. The session will conclude with audience participation and identification of next steps through a question and answer period.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants will be able to

• Identify a few of the information challenges during disasters and steps taken to address them;
• Identify the state of the health care infrastructure at the time of the disaster in GNO; and
• Identify the health informatics challenges that need to be considered and recommendations for improving our response for future disasters.

Keywords: Communication, Information Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation