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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Regina E. Nailon, RN, PhD, Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania, One Franklin Town Blvd, Apt. 511, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-898-4989 msg, rrnailon@nursing.upenn.edu

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of the provision of health services following Hurricane Katrina in order to inform policy aimed at improving public health infrastructures necessary in managing future disaster recovery. Methods: Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 15 volunteers who provided health and relief services in 12 shelters across Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to determine their impressions of the experience in the months following their service. Results: Lessons learned are contained within three broad categories which, when considered in their entirety, tell the story of participants' experiences: 1) “The Good” represents what went well, such as having adequate resources (personnel, information, space, supplies); 2) “The Bad” represents what can be improved upon, such as a lack of resources for meeting special needs, poor communication, poor indoor air quality, and volunteers not clearly understanding their roles and responsibilities in managing public health; and, 3) “The Ugly” represents what must be avoided, such as restrictions placed on health providers' abilities to intervene on behalf of public health concerns within shelters. Conclusions: Disaster preparedness planning must include designating shelter locations, including special needs accommodations with the understanding that relief efforts may extend into long-term operations. Methods of assessing and attending to emerging health concerns are imperative to promoting health within mass-care environments. Public health infrastructures must have communication systems that enable timely provision of critical, current information from federal agencies to guide health promotion as well as systems for mobilizing and sustaining adequate resources to this end.

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

• Analyze lessons learned about the effectiveness of health service provision in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
• List 4 critical components in providing effective health services in the aftermath of a disaster.
• Describe public health policy implications of providing mass care and protecting the health of victims and evacuees in the aftermath of a disaster.
• Discuss measures that can be taken by community and public health leaders in preparing for future disaster recovery efforts.

Keywords: Disasters, Public Health Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered