The hurricane season of 2017 was one for the record books. First, Hurricane Irma roared into Florida. Then, Hurricane Maria battered Puerto Rico. Both storms were major hurricanes causing massive damage and power outages in their wake.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills in Hollywood, Florida, lost power and air conditioning. In the days that followed, a total of 12 residents died from heat exposure. Their deaths were ruled homicides by the medical examiner. A criminal probe of the events remains underway (Pesantes, 2018). While future licensure of the facility remains unclear, that fact that change needs to occur is crystal clear.

In addition to the deaths, another problem emerged following the storms. Because Puerto Rico is responsible for production of most of the healthcare saline used in the US, there continues to be a shortage of saline and amino acid drugs available for use in IV (intravenous) infusions and nutritional solutions. According to Medscape Medical News, hospitals are responding to the lack of saline solution by using alternative solutions and by having nurses push intravenous drugs instead of administering them in saline solution. This has created two issues. First, it requires additional time for nurses to administer drugs; and second, there is increased risk to the patient when administering drugs IV push that would normally be administered via a saline solution (Frellik, 2017).

According to healthcaredive.com, the FDA is currently working with manufacturers with an international presence to import products for use into the US. The shortage is subsiding as power is returned to manufacturers in Puerto Rico. The good news is that the companies who manufacture drugs considered critical by the FDA and at risk for shortage have power and are returning to normalcy. It will be interesting to see in the coming months what impacts, if any have resulted.

Terri Chabaud, RN, CLNC

References

Frellik, M. (2017). Hospitals strategize on saline as supply stays low after Maria. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/889591

Healthcaredive.com. (2018). FDA works to ease IV shortages after Hurricane Maria. Retrieved from https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/fda-works-to-ease-iv-shortages-after-hurricane-maria/514939/

Pesantes, E. (2018). ‘Still haunting’: Paramedics testify about what they saw at nursing home where 12 died. Retrieved from http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/hollywood-nursing-home-hurricane-deaths/fl-sb-nursing-home-hearing-fire-rescue-20180130-story.html