How many walked through the door?: the effect of hurricane Katrina evacuees on Houston emergency departments

Medical Care
Karoline Mortensen, Zachary Dreyfuss

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina necessitated the evacuation of over 200,000 New Orleans residents into Houston in the days after landfall. The already stressed emergency departments (EDs) were faced with a potential influx of patients suffering injuries and conditions exacerbated by the hurricane and resulting devastation. To examine the effect of Katrina evacuees on Houston EDs after the hurricane. Data from visits to 25 Houston EDs in 2005 (n = 875,750) were analyzed to evaluate the impact of visits by Katrina evacuees (n = 8427). Descriptive counts of ED visits by individuals with a FEMA designated disaster area zip code due to Katrina. In September, immediately after Katrina, Houston-area EDs reported the lowest monthly total visits in 2005 despite treating 4518 evacuees that month. On aggregate, the increase in visits by evacuees did not overwhelm area EDs, as they coincided with a decrease in ED utilization by nonevacuees and over 20,000 evacuees were seen at medical clinics in the large shelters. The highest number of evacuee visits to an individual ED was 86, on September 1. The peak day of visits, totaling 364, occurred on September 3. The ED that bore 15% of total visits saw no more than 19 evacuees daily. Evacuee and nonevacuee vi...Continue Reading

References

Dec 31, 2004·The Journal of Trauma·Charles E BegleyArlo Weltge
Mar 31, 2006·American Journal of Public Health·Mollyann BrodieJohn M Benson
Sep 9, 2006·Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved·Charles E BegleyKeith Burau
Sep 29, 2006·Southern Medical Journal·Thomas F GavaganKenneth Mattox
Mar 29, 2007·Annals of Family Medicine·Thomas D EdwardsAdonna F Lowe
May 8, 2007·Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved·Wayne J Riley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 11, 2012·Nihon Ronen Igakkai zasshi. Japanese journal of geriatrics·Takashi Takahashi
Jan 1, 2012·Medicare & Medicaid Research Review·Troy Quast, Karoline Mortensen
May 18, 2016·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·Mark J SharpShao Lin
Aug 14, 2009·Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·Jeremy J HessHoward Frumkin
Feb 3, 2016·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·Hyun KimEmanuela Taioli
Oct 8, 2020·Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·Kevin C HeslinPamela L Owens

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Karoline MortensenVivian Ho
The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : Official Organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society
John S SchieffelinRobin McGoey
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Bailus Walker, Rueben C Warren
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved