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Breaking HHS IG report : US hospitals facing "severe" & "widespread" shortages of needed medical sup
Link to tweet
Jim Sciutto ✔@jimsciutto
Breaking: US hospitals facing “severe” & “widespread” shortages of needed medical supplies, hampering the ability to test & respond to coronavirus adequately & protect medical staff, according to new report by HHS inspector general
https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-20-00300.pdf …
7:40 AM - Apr 6, 2020
Findings at a Glance: Hospital Challenges
Severe Shortages of Testing Supplies and Extended Waits for Results
Hospitals reported that severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results limited
hospitals’ ability to monitor the health of patients and staff. Hospitals reported that they were unable
to keep up with COVID-19 testing demands because they lacked complete kits and/or the individual
components and supplies needed to complete tests. Additionally, hospitals reported frequently
waiting 7 days or longer for test results. When patient stays were extended while awaiting test results,
this strained bed availability, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and staffing.
Widespread Shortages of PPE
Hospitals reported that widespread shortages of PPE put staff and patients at risk. Hospitals reported
that heavier use of PPE than normal was contributing to the shortage and that the lack of a robust
supply chain was delaying or preventing them from restocking PPE needed to protect staff. Hospitals
also expressed uncertainty about availability of PPE from Federal and State sources and noted sharp
increases in prices for PPE from some vendors.
Difficulty Maintaining Adequate Staffing and Supporting Staff
Hospitals reported that they were not always able to maintain adequate staffing levels or offer staff
adequate support. Hospitals reported a shortage of specialized providers needed to meet the
anticipated patient surge and raised concerns that staff exposure to the virus may exacerbate staffing
shortages and overwork. Hospital administrators also expressed concern that fear and uncertainty
were taking an emotional toll on staff, both professionally and personally.
Difficulty Maintaining and Expanding Hospital Capacity to Treat Patients
Capacity concerns emerged as hospitals anticipated being overwhelmed if they experienced a surge of
patients, who may require special beds and rooms to treat and contain infection. Many hospitals
reported that post-acute-care facilities were requiring negative COVID-19 tests before accepting
patients discharged from hospitals, meaning that some patients who no longer required acute care
were taking up valuable bed space while waiting to be discharged.
Shortages of Critical Supplies, Materials, and Logistic Support
Hospitals reported that shortages of critical supplies, materials, and logistic support that accompany
more beds affected hospitals’ ability to care for patients. Hospitals reported needing items that
support a patient room, such as intravenous therapy (IV) poles, medical gas, linens, toilet paper, and
food. Others reported shortages of no-touch infrared thermometers, disinfectants, and cleaning
supplies. Isolated and smaller hospitals faced special challenges maintaining the supplies they needed
and restocking quickly when they ran out of supplies.
Anticipated Shortages of Ventilators
Anticipated shortages of ventilators were identified as a big challenge for hospitals. Hospitals
reported an uncertain supply of standard, full-feature ventilators and in some cases used alternatives
to support patients, including adapting anesthesia machines and using single-use emergency
transport ventilators. Hospitals anticipated that ventilator shortages would pose difficult decisions
about ethical allocation and liability, although at the time of our survey no hospital reported limiting
ventilator use.
Increased Costs and Decreased Revenue
Hospitals described increasing costs and decreasing revenues as a threat to their financial viability.
Hospitals reported that ceasing elective procedures and other services decreased revenues at the
same time that their costs have increased as they prepare for a potential surge of patients. Many
hospitals reported that their cash reserves were quickly depleting, which could disrupt ongoing
hospital operations.
Changing and Sometimes Inconsistent Guidance
Hospitals reported that changing and sometimes inconsistent guidance from Federal, State, and local
authorities posed challenges and confused hospitals and the public. Hospitals reported that it was
sometimes difficult to remain current with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance
and that they received conflicting guidance from different government and medical authorities,
including criteria for testing, determining which elective procedures to delay, use of PPE, and getting
supplies from the national stockpile. Hospitals also reported concerns that public misinformation has
increased hospital workloads (e.g., patients showing up unnecessarily, hospitals needing to do public
education) at a critical time.
Severe Shortages of Testing Supplies and Extended Waits for Results
Hospitals reported that severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results limited
hospitals’ ability to monitor the health of patients and staff. Hospitals reported that they were unable
to keep up with COVID-19 testing demands because they lacked complete kits and/or the individual
components and supplies needed to complete tests. Additionally, hospitals reported frequently
waiting 7 days or longer for test results. When patient stays were extended while awaiting test results,
this strained bed availability, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and staffing.
Widespread Shortages of PPE
Hospitals reported that widespread shortages of PPE put staff and patients at risk. Hospitals reported
that heavier use of PPE than normal was contributing to the shortage and that the lack of a robust
supply chain was delaying or preventing them from restocking PPE needed to protect staff. Hospitals
also expressed uncertainty about availability of PPE from Federal and State sources and noted sharp
increases in prices for PPE from some vendors.
Difficulty Maintaining Adequate Staffing and Supporting Staff
Hospitals reported that they were not always able to maintain adequate staffing levels or offer staff
adequate support. Hospitals reported a shortage of specialized providers needed to meet the
anticipated patient surge and raised concerns that staff exposure to the virus may exacerbate staffing
shortages and overwork. Hospital administrators also expressed concern that fear and uncertainty
were taking an emotional toll on staff, both professionally and personally.
Difficulty Maintaining and Expanding Hospital Capacity to Treat Patients
Capacity concerns emerged as hospitals anticipated being overwhelmed if they experienced a surge of
patients, who may require special beds and rooms to treat and contain infection. Many hospitals
reported that post-acute-care facilities were requiring negative COVID-19 tests before accepting
patients discharged from hospitals, meaning that some patients who no longer required acute care
were taking up valuable bed space while waiting to be discharged.
Shortages of Critical Supplies, Materials, and Logistic Support
Hospitals reported that shortages of critical supplies, materials, and logistic support that accompany
more beds affected hospitals’ ability to care for patients. Hospitals reported needing items that
support a patient room, such as intravenous therapy (IV) poles, medical gas, linens, toilet paper, and
food. Others reported shortages of no-touch infrared thermometers, disinfectants, and cleaning
supplies. Isolated and smaller hospitals faced special challenges maintaining the supplies they needed
and restocking quickly when they ran out of supplies.
Anticipated Shortages of Ventilators
Anticipated shortages of ventilators were identified as a big challenge for hospitals. Hospitals
reported an uncertain supply of standard, full-feature ventilators and in some cases used alternatives
to support patients, including adapting anesthesia machines and using single-use emergency
transport ventilators. Hospitals anticipated that ventilator shortages would pose difficult decisions
about ethical allocation and liability, although at the time of our survey no hospital reported limiting
ventilator use.
Increased Costs and Decreased Revenue
Hospitals described increasing costs and decreasing revenues as a threat to their financial viability.
Hospitals reported that ceasing elective procedures and other services decreased revenues at the
same time that their costs have increased as they prepare for a potential surge of patients. Many
hospitals reported that their cash reserves were quickly depleting, which could disrupt ongoing
hospital operations.
Changing and Sometimes Inconsistent Guidance
Hospitals reported that changing and sometimes inconsistent guidance from Federal, State, and local
authorities posed challenges and confused hospitals and the public. Hospitals reported that it was
sometimes difficult to remain current with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance
and that they received conflicting guidance from different government and medical authorities,
including criteria for testing, determining which elective procedures to delay, use of PPE, and getting
supplies from the national stockpile. Hospitals also reported concerns that public misinformation has
increased hospital workloads (e.g., patients showing up unnecessarily, hospitals needing to do public
education) at a critical time.
There's another IG that will be looking for work by 5pm
19 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
So goes the old saying! 
The dumbest freepers are online sharing memes that this is all a dry run for when President Biden implements a public option.
sarcasm:
The only plus is that the " News" has finally realized how much power
lies in telling truth to power. This has always been the Pukes MO.
Break the bones of the people to suck out the marrow.
