Recent reports have shown that New Orleans’ health care system is finally recovering, several years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. The New Orleans Times Picayune reported this month that doctors are finally returning to the area - at an astounding rate. In 2005, the average for the area was 239 doctors per 100,000 people. Now, they have 256 doctors per 100,000.

A new program was initiated in February of 2007, providing federal grants through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to help recruit and retain medical professionals in the area. These grants help pay off student loans and provide the capital to help start private practices and local health clinics. To be eligible for the grants, professionals must make a commitment to stay in the New Orleans area for at least three years, and focus on caring for patients with little or no insurance. Tulane University School of Medicine and Louisiana State University Medical School are also attracting more applicants than ever before, a promising sign for the future of the area.

New Orleans still has quite a ways to go before the Louisiana health care system is fully recovered. Many New Orleans residents are still uninsured, low income families. The area’s hospitals are still in unstable financial situations, and new hospitals are currently under construction. And while primary care doctors are returning to the area abundantly, specialists are returning at a much slower rate. Patients seeking specialized care typically experience lengthy waits for appointments, especially when they are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Still, the New Orleans health system is certainly improving. Over the next few years, the area will hopefully continue to grow and recover. We’re interested in hearing from our readers in Louisiana. What has your experience been these last few years? What are the struggles, and how have things improved? Are there any health insurance issues we can try to help you resolve?

New Orleans Times Picayune article.