Post-Katrina: study in crisis-related program adaptability.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss disaster planning, didactic reorganization, and clinical realignments useful in rebuilding academic otolaryngology residency programs after disaster.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe our reorganization and analysis of objective measures in resident education before and after Hurricane Katrina. Post-Katrina, the number of full-time faculty and part-time clinical instructors/gratis faculty has decreased (4 vs 9 and 36 vs 43, respectively), but the number of part-time LSU faculty (private-academic partnership) has increased (0 vs 3) with overall improved resident supervision. Resident complement decreased by 9.3%. Surgical case loads are essentially unchanged. Reorganization of the didactic schedule has increased attendance and maintained examination scores above national averages. Establishment of two new practice sites provided an adequate number of patients for residency training.


CONCLUSIONS
Poststorm reorganization has maintained or exceeded pre-Katrina performance standards. Establishment of communication and data retrieval proved irreplaceable and demand advance preparation.
Pero
Colin D
CD
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA. colinpero@yahoo.com
Pou
Anna M
AM
Arriaga
Moises A
MA
Nuss
Daniel W
DW
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D003479:Curriculum; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D004190:Disasters; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008145:Louisiana; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*