RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Caring for a Surge of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees in Primary Care Clinics
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 170
OP 174
DO 10.1370/afm.646
VO 5
IS 2
A1 Thomas D. Edwards
A1 Richard A. Young
A1 Adonna F. Lowe
YR 2007
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/5/2/170.abstract
AB Primary care physicians are rarely mentioned in medical disaster plans. We describe how a group of mostly family physicians and administrators of the JPS Health Network (JPS) took primary responsibility for 3,700 evacuees of Hurricane Katrina who came to Tarrant County, Texas. JPS provided medical care to 1,664 (45%) evacuees during a 2-week period. The most common needs were medications for chronic illnesses and treatment of skin infections (primarily on the feet). The JPS Emergency Department saw only 148 evacuees, most of whom arrived by their own transportation and were not seriously ill. JPS created a triage center located several miles from the hospital that referred almost all evacuees with health care needs to a primary care clinic. It was an effective approach for caring for the medical needs of disaster victims and prevented an emergency department and hospital from being overwhelmed. The JPS experience may guide future planning efforts for natural or manmade disasters, especially pandemic threats.