Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2006
Hurricane Katrina: medical response at the Houston Astrodome/Reliant Center Complex.
On September 1, 2005, with only 12 hours notice, various collaborators established a medical facility--the Katrina Clinic--at the Astrodome/Reliant Center Complex in Houston. By the time the facility closed roughly two weeks later, the Katrina Clinic medical staff had seen over 11,000 of the estimated 27,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees who sought shelter in the Complex. Herein, we describe the scope of this medical response, citing our major challenges, successes, and recommendations for conducting similar efforts in the future.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2006
Comparative StudyBlack/white differential use of health services by young children in a rural Mississippi community.
Use of health services in rural communities has not been well studied. We explored how black and white children used health services in a rural Mississippi community. ⋯ Overall, black children used disproportionately fewer health services than their white counterparts, but used significantly higher emergency room services. Private insurance coverage was the single most significant variable that accounted for the black-white differential use of the emergency room.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2006
Surveillance of the colorectal cancer disparities among demographic subgroups: a spatial analysis.
The literature suggests that colorectal cancer mortality in Texas is distributed inhomogeneously among specific demographic subgroups and in certain geographic regions over an extended period. To understand the extent of the demographic and geographic disparities, the present study examined colorectal cancer mortality in 15 demographic groups in Texas counties between 1990 and 2001. ⋯ Health disparities of colorectal cancer mortality continue to exist in Texas demographic subpopulations. Health education and intervention programs should be directed to the at-risk subpopulations in the identified regions.
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Southern medical journal · Sep 2006
Adult health screening and referral in the emergency department.
The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) recommends using all available patient encounters to provide preventive healthcare to patients. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of performing preventive care in the emergency department (ED). These studies have used the ED as a location for patient identification and treatment, rather than as a referral site. The primary objective of this study was to identify and refer patients with unmet healthcare needs seen in the Emergency Department. A secondary objective was to determine if the patient would accept health referrals and follow-up with a doctor or clinic. ⋯ Most of the patients in this study were found to have unmet healthcare needs. Many of the patients were given referrals and followed up with the clinic or physician for the healthcare problems identified. This study reinforces the value of the USPHS guideline to use all available patient encounters for preventive healthcare.