Mary Wilson
Well-known member
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
January 26, 2021
Healthcare system, state, and national leaders need to act now to avoid medical oxygen shortages
in the weeks and months ahead. Medical oxygen supplies are already at crisis levels in some cities
and states due to severe surges in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations. In Southern California, the shortages have a ected not only hospitals and other health facilities but
also emergency medical transportation practices.1 ese shortages apply to wall oxygen in hospitals
as well as portable oxygen (cylinders and concentrators) in hospitals and medical facilities and for at- home and emergency use. Oxygen shortages were also reported in New York City2 (March 2020) and Texas3 (November 2020) during the COVID-19 hospital surges last year and are occurring in other countries.4,5 Hospitals and health systems everywhere should begin to prepare now for potential oxygen shortages. As hospitals reach capacity due to surges in COVID-19 patients, this crisis is likely to be repeated in other locations. If enough areas are severely a ected concurrently, a national crisis could ensue.
In January 2021, discussions took place with frontline clinicians and public health o cials in California, Minnesota, and New York. e following descriptions of and lessons learned from oxygen supply shortages and the suggested solutions derive from those discussions.
Oxygen shortages are occurring because a large number of patients require oxygen therapy as part of their COVID-19 treatment.
...
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/COVID-19-resources/210126-oxygen-memo.pdf
January 26, 2021
Healthcare system, state, and national leaders need to act now to avoid medical oxygen shortages
in the weeks and months ahead. Medical oxygen supplies are already at crisis levels in some cities
and states due to severe surges in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations. In Southern California, the shortages have a ected not only hospitals and other health facilities but
also emergency medical transportation practices.1 ese shortages apply to wall oxygen in hospitals
as well as portable oxygen (cylinders and concentrators) in hospitals and medical facilities and for at- home and emergency use. Oxygen shortages were also reported in New York City2 (March 2020) and Texas3 (November 2020) during the COVID-19 hospital surges last year and are occurring in other countries.4,5 Hospitals and health systems everywhere should begin to prepare now for potential oxygen shortages. As hospitals reach capacity due to surges in COVID-19 patients, this crisis is likely to be repeated in other locations. If enough areas are severely a ected concurrently, a national crisis could ensue.
In January 2021, discussions took place with frontline clinicians and public health o cials in California, Minnesota, and New York. e following descriptions of and lessons learned from oxygen supply shortages and the suggested solutions derive from those discussions.
Oxygen shortages are occurring because a large number of patients require oxygen therapy as part of their COVID-19 treatment.
...
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/resources/COVID-19/COVID-19-resources/210126-oxygen-memo.pdf