Swept Away: Use of General Medical and Mental Health Services Among Veterans Displaced By Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

Objective-This study examined national patterns of outpatient service use by veterans from regions affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The long term participation trend for the colorectal cancer screening after the 2011 triple disaster in Minamisoma City, Fukushima, Japan

“…The trend in screening participation rates shown in this study seems consistent with the tendency to refrain from usual health maintenance services for chronic diseases and other decreases after a major disaster. For example, in the three years following Hurricane Katrina, the proportion of residents undergoing diabetes care was lower than in the pre-disaster period 28 ; mental health utilization among the United States military veterans also declined in the months following the disaster 29 . After a large-scale disaster, both short-term and long-term medical interruptions are important, and recovery efforts need to be focused on.…”

The Impact of the Chi-Chi Earthquake on the Incidence of Hospitalizations for Schizophrenia and on Concomitant Hospital Choice

“…However, the inpatient bed capacity was reduced 96% even 4 months after the disaster and reduction remained at 70% 1 year later (Calderon-Abbo 2008). Druss et al (2007) compared patients using any outpatient visits to New Orleans or Biloxi-Gulfport veteran hospitals, two major affected areas, with a cohort receiving care during the same months in the previous 2 years. They found that, after adjusting for demographic variables and baseline use of medical services, patients from New Orleans facilities were 73% less likely to use any outpatient services.…”

Disaster preparedness and response practices among providers from the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders

“…24 The charge of the EMSHG, working in conjunction with Area Emergency Managers (AEMs), is to ensure that VHA medical centers can continue to offer effective medical care in the event of any natural or manmade disaster. A limited number of publications have documented disaster planning and response efforts in VHA acute-care and medical-surgical facilities, 25,26 the impact that previous natural disasters have had on patterns of outpatient service utilization, 27 and in one case, the experiences of healthcare providers involved in the evacuation of a VHA SCI/D unit. 28 Provider questions focused on demographic characteristics, descriptions of the disaster(s) that they had experienced, and corresponding aspects of preparedness and response including communication, training, and safety issues, handling of basic services, challenges encountered, and best practices.…”