Katrina shows the need to computerize health records
“Federal health officials are working to open a database of prescription drug records to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees piece their health care back together.
The project, still developing three weeks after the disaster, underscores the glaring reality that the hurricane destroyed medical records of untold numbers of people, possibly complicating treatment decisions for years to come.
And it’s focusing new attention on the need for computerized medical records, accessible in an emergency even if the patient is far from home or their doctor’s office no longer exists.”
