• Mordecai N Potash, Jeffrey A West, Sheila Corrigan, and Megan D Keyes.
• Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, New Orleans, LA 70112-2715, USA. mpotash@tulane.edu
• Pain Med. 2009 Apr 1; 10 (3): 440-6.

ObjectiveTo evaluate Hurricane Katrina's impact on patients with pre-existing chronic pain. Design. Review of literature about Hurricane Katrina and chronic pain or pain management and a qualitative interview of all identified patients enrolled in a behavioral pain management program.SettingSoutheast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, Mental Health Service Line.SubjectsIn total, 42 of the 53 (79%) veterans enrolled in a chronic pain program prior to Hurricane Katrina were able to be contacted and evaluated with interviews and a review of their available medical records.Outcome MeasuresMajor impediments and facilitative factors in delivering pain management services were identified.ConclusionsHealth care planning for large-scale emergencies must take into the need for prompt continuation of pain management services in patients with chronic pre-existing pain. Coordination between emergency clinics and pain management specialists, as well as the availability of electronic medical records, is an important factor in continuing established pain management services after a regional disaster.

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