@article{ref1,
title="The effect of a class IV hurricane on emergency department operations",
journal="American journal of emergency medicine",
year="1993",
author="Sheppa, C. M. and Stevens, Jack and Philbrick, J. T. and Canada, M.",
volume="11",
number="5",
pages="464-467",
abstract="The objective of this study was to determine the impact on emergency department (ED) operations of Hurricane Hugo, a class IV hurricane that struck Charleston, South Carolina, on September 21, 1989. The study design was a retrospective record-based descriptive study and mail survey of the ED of a 300-bed regional medical center directly in the path of the storm. During the 3 weeks after the storm, ED patient volume increased 19% over that of the 3 weeks before the storm. Increased visit volumes were evident for at least 3 months. Compared with a similar period of the previous year, there was an increase in the proportion of patients seen for lacerations of all types, puncture wounds, stings, and falls. Sixty-two percent of physician offices were still closed 7 days after the storm. The direct effects of a class IV hurricane on ED operations included major alterations in the volume and types of patient visits. Because of the evacuation of approximately 40% of the coastal population and storm damage hindering travel, the increase in visit volume was less in magnitude but of longer duration has been reported in class III hurricanes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0735-6757",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}