Hurricane Florence made landfall in North and South Carolina last week, but Penn Medicine Hospitals and other facilities nationwide have planned for weeks to adapt to expected drug shortages associated with its path of destruction.
In 2017, Hurricane Maria drove through Puerto Rico, destroying production of saline IV bags and other drugs. But, lessons learned from Maria, and countless hurricanes before it, are helping hospitals and pharmacies to become more savvy with their resources and plan ahead to anticipate shortages that could occur to ensure all patients receive their needed medications.
“When a hurricane hits, you never really know what the impact is going to be,” said Nishaminy Kasbekar, director of pharmacy at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. “Hurricane Maria last year really helped us to now be more proactive and prepare for future natural disasters.”
While Hurricane Florence was downgraded to a category-1 shortly after reaching the North Carolina shores, the potential damage is not limited to the immediate effects of oppressive winds and rain that batter the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic states. As coastal hospitals in South Carolina work to ensure their patients are safe, disaster planning here at home is focused on potential nationwide, long-term effects on adequate drug supplies, an effort that can often be a delicate balancing act.
Read more at Penn Medicine News.
