It's been nearly six months since Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. On Wednesday, the Texas Hospital Association released a special report on the disaster response efforts of hospitals affected by the storm.
The report is the result of a THA survey of 92 hospitals located in Harvey-affected areas regarding their response to the Category 4 storm. It provides insight into how disaster responses could be improved into the future.
Here are six takeaways from the report.
1. Hospitals told THA there were not enough emergency shelters open and available for evacuees when Hurricane Harvey hit. They also said there was not enough capacity among open and operational shelters for residents with medical challenges such as quadriplegia and requiring dialysis.
2. Hospitals said emergency provisions and supplies were strained because local residents without acute medical conditions sought shelter in their facilities. The report states: "The influx of people seeking shelter, in addition to hospitals' existing inpatient population, compounded by a shortage of hospital staff, created significant resource challenges for hospitals and burdened the limited number of staff and physicians who were able to get to work."
3. Availability of security personnel was also an issue noted by hospitals. According to the report, some of these facilities had difficulty keeping adequate security in place. Additionally, other hospitals with adequate security said housing and feeding security teams proved difficult given the high number of admitted patients and the influx of people seeking shelter at their facilities. The report states additional security during Hurricane Harvey led to increased costs for various hospitals.
4. Overall, THA estimates disaster-related costs for the 92 surveyed hospitals totaled $460 million, including $40 million for rising costs related to uncompensated care.
5. Other issues identified in the report include hospitals' difficulties getting resources and supplies delivered during and after Hurricane Harvey, as well as providing support services for hospital workers.
6. The THA report provides various "next step priorities." These include "consider[ing] coordinating a meeting with key partners to discuss the process for establishing shelter facilities and ensuring they are prepared to house and care for medically fragile individuals"; "consider[ing] coordinating a meeting with key partners to discuss improved communication around appropriate evacuation sites and for related resources to ensure hospitals are not relied on inappropriately in future storms"; and " consider[ing] a follow-up survey of hospitals to understand the full scope of supplies needed and the circumstances that led to their delivery delays."
Read the full report here.
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