LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Department of Radiology

This case study chronicles the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Department of Radiology at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and the department's subsequent efforts to recover and re-dedicate itself to providing quality patient care and resident education. Hurricane Katrina damaged the department's facilities, severely decreased departmental cash flow, disrupted resident education, and resulted in faculty exodus. Because of the “catastrophic loss of resources” suffered by the department, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) proposed expedited withdrawal of accreditation for the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, to which the department agreed. Since Katrina, the program has taken steps toward regaining its pre-Katrina status as a successful residency program that produced satisfied, successful residents. These steps include the appointment of a new department head of radiology, the recruitment of academic directors for each of the nine subspecialties, the reopening of the University Hospital, and the growth of annual procedure volume. All institutions face the possibility of a natural disaster. It is imperative to have a plan in place to ensure continued resident education, patient safety, and ACGME accreditation.