Hurricane!

An extensive look at the impact of Hurricane Katrina on health care in New Orleans.

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, our crisis was acute, our options limited, and our decisions necessarily quick. Now, with the crisis in the chronic phase, options backed by conflicting interest groups abound, resulting in cumbersome decision making and dangerously slow implementation. During the crisis, two principles contributed to survival: initiative for self-rescue and professional teamwork. As we heal our infrastructure, these principles continue to guide us.