Effect of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island Emergency Departments Visits

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Kim ◽  
Rebecca M. Schwartz ◽  
Jerrold Hirsch ◽  
Robert Silverman ◽  
Bian Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Long Island ◽  
New York State ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the effect of Hurricane Sandy on Long Island mental health emergency department (ED) visits and to determine whether these visits varied according to patient demographics or geographic area and intensity of the impact.MethodsIndividual-level de-identified data were extracted from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System from New York State ED visits from October 1 to December 2012 for residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island. The dates of the ED visits were grouped into 4 periods: (1) pre-Sandy, October 1–28; (2) during Sandy, October 29; (3) post-Sandy I, October 30 to November 1; and (4) post-Sandy II, November 2–30.ResultsA total of 126,337 ED visits were recorded among 23 EDs. A significant drop in volume was observed on October 29; 399 more ED visits for physical health diagnoses were identified in the post-Sandy I period than in the pre-Sandy period. “Diseases of the respiratory system” was the only diagnosis group that showed a positive trend in the post-Sandy I period compared with the pre-Sandy period (increase of 4%). No significant changes in mental health visits were observed after Sandy landfall.ConclusionsThis analysis suggests that the critical temporal window during which ED resources should be increased is in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:344–350)

Window of Opportunity for New Disease Surveillance: Developing Keyword Lists for Monitoring Mental Health and Injury Through Syndromic Surveillance

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Lauper ◽  
Jian-Hua Chen ◽  
Shao Lin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Free Text ◽  
York State ◽  
The Impact

AbstractStudies have documented the impact that hurricanes have on mental health and injury rates before, during, and after the event. Since timely tracking of these disease patterns is crucial to disaster planning, response, and recovery, syndromic surveillance keyword filters were developed by the New York State Department of Health to study the short- and long-term impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Emergency department syndromic surveillance is recognized as a valuable tool for informing public health activities during and immediately following a disaster. Data typically consist of daily visit reports from hospital emergency departments (EDs) of basic patient data and free-text chief complaints. To develop keyword lists, comparisons were made with existing CDC categories and then integrated with lists from the New York City and New Jersey health departments in a collaborative effort. Two comprehensive lists were developed, each containing multiple subcategories and over 100 keywords for both mental health and injury. The data classifiers using these keywords were used to assess impacts of Sandy on mental health and injuries in New York State. The lists will be validated by comparing the ED chief complaint keyword with the final ICD diagnosis code. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:173–178)

scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Patterns in Utilization of Mental Health Services During and After Hurricane Sandy: Emergency Department and Inpatient Hospitalizations in New York City

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 512-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangtao Tony He ◽  
Nneka Lundy De La Cruz ◽  
Donald Olson ◽  
Sungwoo Lim ◽  
Amber Levanon Seligson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Service Areas ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectiveHurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012, causing a coastal storm surge and extensive flooding, which led to the closure of several health care facilities in New York City (NYC) and prolonged interruptions in service delivery. The impact on mental health–related emergency department (ED) and inpatient hospital service utilization was studied.MethodsData came from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. We obtained mental health–related data among NYC residents from 2010 to 2013. Patients were grouped into 5 geographic areas, including service areas of closed hospitals, the Hurricane Sandy evaluation zone, and all of NYC. The Farrington method was used to detect increases in ED visits and hospitalizations for the post-Sandy period.ResultsOpen hospitals experienced a substantial increase in psychiatric ED visits from patients living in the service areas of closed hospitals. This surge in psychiatric ED visits persisted for 4 to 6 months after Hurricane Sandy. However, the increase in psychiatric hospitalizations was observed for 1 to 3 months.ConclusionsSeveral NYC hospitals received a substantially larger number of ED patients from service areas of closed hospitals after Hurricane Sandy, unlike other hospitals that experienced a decrease. Because of potential surges in the number of psychiatric ED visits, resource allocation to hospitals should be considered. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:512–517)

scholarly journals Analysis of the impact of antidepressants and other medications on COVID-19 infection risk in a chronic psychiatric in-patient cohort

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine L. Clelland ◽  
Krista Ramiah ◽  
Louisa Steinberg ◽  
James D. Clelland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Reuptake Inhibitor ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
New York State ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
York State ◽  
Antidepressant Use ◽  
The Impact

Background During the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with confirmed cases in New York State accounted for roughly 25% of total US cases, with psychiatric hospital in-patients at particularly high risk for COVID-19 infection. Aims The beneficial effects of mental health medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), on the severity of COVID-19 disease outcomes have been documented. Protective effects against infection have also been suggested for these medications. We therefore tested the hypothesis that medication use modifies the risk of COVID-19 infection in a long-stay, chronic in-patient psychiatry setting, where the potential for exposure was likely uniform across the facility, and where these medications were routinely prescribed. Method This was a retrospective cohort study of an adult psychiatric facility operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Current medication information and COVID-19 status was collected from electronic medical records for 165 people who were in-patients during the period January to July 2020, and logistic regression was employed to model the main effects of medication use on COVID-19 infection. Results A significant protective association was observed between antidepressant use and COVID-19 infection (odds ratio (OR) = 0.33, 95% CI 0.15–0.70, adjusted P < 0.05). Analysis of individual antidepressant classes showed that SSRI, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and the serotonin-2 antagonist reuptake inhibitor classes of antidepressants, drove this protective effect. Exploratory analyses of individual antidepressants demonstrated an association between lower risk of infection and fluoxetine use (P = 0.023), as well as trazodone use (P = 0.001). Conclusions The novel finding of reduced COVID-19 infection risk for psychiatric in-patients taking antidepressants, suggests that antidepressants may be an important weapon in the continued fight against COVID-19 disease. This finding may become particularly salient for in-patient settings if vaccine-resistant strains of the virus appear.

The impact of Hurricane Sandy on the mental health of New York area residents

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Schwartz, PhD ◽  
Cristina Sison, PhD ◽  
Samantha M. Kerath, MS ◽  
Lisa Murphy, BA ◽  
Trista Breil, MA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
The Impact

The Impact of Hurricane Sandy on Pregnancy Complications in Eight Affected Counties of New York State

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianpeng Xiao ◽  
Miaoling Huang ◽  
Wangjian Zhang ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Ziqiang Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Pregnancy Complications ◽  
New York State ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
York State ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Using Hospital ED Data to Identify Mental Illness Trends After Hurricane Sandy

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Lauper ◽  
Cristian Pantea ◽  
Jian-Hua Chen ◽  
Hwa-Gan Chang ◽  
Shao Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
New York ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Chief Complaint ◽  
York State ◽  
Over Time

Emergency department chief complaint (EDCC) data provides an opportunity for capturing the early mental health impact of disaster events at the community level, and to track their impact over time. Mental health keyword lists were generated and used to conduct a study of mental health EDCCs after Hurricane Sandy in New York State. Compared with the unaffected area, the relative risk of EDCCs in the affected counties was significantly higher during the 12-day Sandy period (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.03-1.31), as well as in the 1-year post-Sandy period (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.25).

Vulnerability of Older Adults in Disasters: Emergency Department Utilization by Geriatric Patients After Hurricane Sandy

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidrah Malik ◽  
David C. Lee ◽  
Kelly M. Doran ◽  
Corita R. Grudzen ◽  
Justin Worthing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
New York ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Electrolyte Disorders ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTObjectiveOlder adults are a potentially medically vulnerable population with increased mortality rates during and after disasters. To evaluate the impact of a natural disaster on this population, we performed a temporal and geospatial analysis of emergency department (ED) use by adults aged 65 years and older in New York City (NYC) following Hurricane Sandy’s landfall.MethodsWe used an all-payer claims database to analyze demographics, insurance status, geographic distribution, and health conditions for post-disaster ED visits among older adults. We compared ED patterns of use in the weeks before and after Hurricane Sandy throughout NYC and the most afflicted evacuation zones.ResultsWe found significant increases in ED utilization by older adults (and disproportionately higher in those aged ≥85 years) in the 3 weeks after Hurricane Sandy, especially in NYC evacuation zone one. Primary diagnoses with notable increases included dialysis, electrolyte disorders, and prescription refills. Secondary diagnoses highlighted homelessness and care access issues.ConclusionsOlder adults display heightened risk for worse health outcomes with increased ED visits after a disaster. Our findings suggest the need for dedicated resources and planning for older adults following a natural disaster by ensuring access to medical facilities, prescriptions, dialysis, and safe housing and by optimizing health care delivery needs to reduce the burden of chronic disease. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:184–193)

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