We describe how a group of mostly family physicians and administrators of the JPS Health Network (JPS) took primary responsibility for 3,700 evacuees of Hurricane Katrina who came to Tarrant County, Texas. JPS provided medical care to 1,664 (45%) evacuees during a 2-week period.
JPS created a triage center located several miles from the hospital that referred almost all evacuees with health care needs to a primary care clinic.
During the initial 5-day surge period, the health care team comprised 8 attending family physicians, 1 attending psychiatrist, and approximately 15 family medicine residents. Time commitments ranged from a few hours to all day; physicians came and left as their other duties allowed. Other members of the team included 33 administrative staff, 55 nurses, 9 mental health professionals, 36 pharmacists and related staff, 57 clerical staff, 26 police and transportation staff, and 35 community volunteers.
