The Medical Education Commission report 2005 and 2006: Katrina kinetics change Graduate Medical Education

The destructive and disruptive force of Hurricane Katrina was an enormous challenge to Graduate Medical Education (GME) in Louisiana. Before Katrina hit, GME was successful, prospering, steady, and productive in the state professional workforce, provision of clinical care, and economic development. That GME survived as well as it did, especially in the hardest hit institutions in New Orleans, is indeed remarkable, and greatly assisted by all other GME institutions in LA and across the U.S. As documented in this report, hits taken resulted in some loss and redistribution. The last two matches are compared, 2005 to 2006, and although both filled after the scramble, '06 is smaller. The year before Katrina (2004 to 2005) data on GME are included, and 2005 to 2006 will be posted when available. The approximate loss (16%) and redistribution scenarios are presented. National trends are also noted, as primary care specialties are less in the national match, even as a national response is begun to increase the short supply of physicians.