Catastrophe

Preparedness
for the Health
Record
Katherine Konnert
HCMT 1005 001
Module 3 Assignment 4
29 January 2015

Importance of Health Records

Accessible health records are vital, both during and

after, a catastrophe.

They are necessary to treat those who are already ill

before the catastrophe and for emergency response.

Continued care is especially important so that

contagious disease does not spread and chronic illness
does not progress.

Example of Impact of Catastrophe on

Health Records

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the impact that

a natural disaster, or other catastrophe, can have on
health records.

During Katrina, many health records were still paper and

stored near the floor, so over 1 million records were
destroyed because of the water and resulting mold.

Some Electronic Health Records did survive, but many

Electronic Health Records that were not accessible offsite or not backed up in a separate location were also
ruined.

Impact of Destroyed Records on

People

The destroyed health records meant that many patients lost important data and
information, including

medication & allergy lists

pathology and lab results

imaging reports
diagnosis & treatment information

After the hurricane, many patients no longer knew what medications & dosages to take or
what treatments they needed to continue.

Their healthcare providers did not have records of what medications to prescribe and what
treatments to order.

Treatments were delayed. At least one patients cancer metastasized because of the delay.

Relapses occurred and some patients likely became resistant to some medications that were
discontinued prematurely.

Disease was spread through close contact in crowded shelters.

To aid patients and healthcare providers after the hurricane, the federal government set up
a database containing prescription histories and other health information that could be
gathered.

Catastrophe Preparedness Plan for the

Health Record

Both healthcare professionals and patients have learned that a

preparedness plan for the health record is crucial and should
include

storing paper records on the 2nd floor, if a 2nd floor is available.

interoperable electronic health record

health information stored in a web portal that can be accessed by
patients and healthcare providers anywhere, from any electronic device
EHR systems backed up in a separate, safe location.
Portable electronic devices, allowing access to the EHR, for physicians to
take with them in case of an emergency

patients waterproof lists with essential health information

patients electronic Personal Health Record that can be accessed at
another location, even after evacuation from a catastrophe
training healthcare professionals in methods of transferring information

References

Bower, A. (2005, September 22). Katrina's Lingering Medical Nightmare. TIME. Retrieved 2015, from
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1107826,00.html
Dimich, C. (2008, September). A Long Recovery: HIM Departments Three Years After Katrina. Journal
of AHIMA(9), 42-46. Retrieved 01 28, 2015, from http://
library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_039950.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_0399
50
Dolan, M., Dooling, J., & Wolter, J. (2012, September). Consumer Preparedness in the Face of Disaster.
Journal of AHIMA, 38-42. Retrieved January 28 , 2015, from http://
library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_049728.hcsp?dDocName=bok1_0497
28
Gardner, A. (2007, 23 March). Electronic Medical Records Proved Their Worth in Katrina's Wake.
Retrieved 2015, from abc NEWS: http://
abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4506718&page=1&singlePage=true
Patton, S. (2005, November 15). Health Care: Medical Records In the Wake of Hurricane Katrina. CIO.
Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/2448113/virtualization/health-care-medical-records-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-katrina.html