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Impact on Primary Care Access Post-Disaster: A Case Study From the Rockaway Peninsula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2016

Rishi K. Sood ,
Angelica Bocour ,
Supriya Kumar ,
Hasan Guclu ,
Margaret Potter  and
Tanya B. Shah
Rishi K. Sood*
Affiliation:
Bureau of Primary Care Access and Planning, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Angelica Bocour
Affiliation:
Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
Supriya Kumar
Affiliation:
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public HealthUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hasan Guclu
Affiliation:
Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Public HealthUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Margaret Potter
Affiliation:
Department of Health Policy and Management, Graduate School of Public HealthUniversity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tanya B. Shah
Affiliation:
The Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Rishi K. Sood, MPH, Bureau of Primary Care Access and Planning, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 (e-mail: rsood@health.nyc.gov).
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Abstract

Objective

Assess Hurricane Sandy’s impact on primary care providers’ services in the Rockaways.

Methods

In-person surveys were conducted in 2014. A list of 46 health care sites in the area of interest was compiled and each site was called to offer participation in our survey. Respondents included physicians and practice administrators who remained familiar with Sandy-related operational challenges.

Results

Of the 40 sites that opted in, most had been in their current location for more than 10 years (73%) and were a small practice (1 or 2 physicians) before Hurricane Sandy (75%). All but 2 (95%) had to temporarily close or relocate. All sites experienced electrical problems that impacted landline, fax, and Internet. Less than one-quarter (n = 9) reported having a plan for continuity of services before Hurricane Sandy, and 43% reported having a plan poststorm. The majority (80%) did not report coordinating with other primary care stakeholders or receiving support from government agencies during the Sandy response.

Conclusions

Hurricane Sandy significantly disrupted access to primary care in the Rockaways. Severe impact to site operations and infrastructure forced many practices to relocate. Greater emergency response and recovery planning is needed, including with government agencies, to minimize disruptions of access to primary care during disaster recovery. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:492–495)

Keywords

primary care accesshurricanesuperstormSandydisaster planning
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Special Issue 3: Superstorm Sandy , June 2016 , pp. 492 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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Footnotes

*

At the time of the study, Ms. Bocour and Ms. Shah were with the Bureau of Primary Care Access and Planning at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

References

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