An op-ed in USA today points out that shortages of critical hospital supplies are occurring and will continue to occur at different times in different states, allowing for increased efficiencies in sharing (which is hampered by a vacuum in leadership at the Federal level).
One of the authors, Dr. Deborah Proctor, is in fact an experienced market designer, who led the (re-)adoption of a fellowship match for gastroenterology fellows.*
National redistribution of hospital supplies could save lives
Taking supplies from less stressed hospitals and sharing them with overwhelmed ones, we could maximize the use of equipment and save more lives.
Diane R. M. Somlo, Dr. Howard P. Forman and Dr. Deborah D. Proctor
"Since we now know more about the predicted peaks in COVID-19 across the U.S., we can see that peak demand will likely occur at different times in different states and cities, starting in early April and extending through May. While some hospitals are already starting to drown, other hospitals that are further from their peak demand have stockpiles of unused equipment lying in wait.
"What if there was a nation-wide system that allowed hospitals that have equipment but have lower present and predicted demand to lend some reusable (ventilator) and non-reusable equipment (PPE, testing kits) to hospitals that are currently being overwhelmed? Then, as demand in one area rises and the other falls, freed up ventilators could be re-distributed, and manufacturers will have had more time to generate non-reusable equipment for hospitals that lent their equipment. By taking from stockpiles of less stressed hospitals and sharing it with currently overwhelmed ones, we could maximize the use of our national inventory of equipment and save more lives.
...
" redistribution approaches in other settings have enabled vast functional expansions of limited supplies, including kidney transplants and donated food for food pantries across the U.S. Bottom line: Redistribution has the potential to improve the trajectory of COVID-19 mortality in the U.S. Our country is already on track to employ these measures at a state level or voluntarily, so delaying set up of cross-state exchange only means missing out on the maximal benefit of redistribution. In fact, as of this writing, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has just signed an executive order enabling redistribution of medical supplies to struggling hospitals within New York state and Oregon has sent ventilators to New York.
One of the authors, Dr. Deborah Proctor, is in fact an experienced market designer, who led the (re-)adoption of a fellowship match for gastroenterology fellows.*
National redistribution of hospital supplies could save lives
Taking supplies from less stressed hospitals and sharing them with overwhelmed ones, we could maximize the use of equipment and save more lives.
Diane R. M. Somlo, Dr. Howard P. Forman and Dr. Deborah D. Proctor
"Since we now know more about the predicted peaks in COVID-19 across the U.S., we can see that peak demand will likely occur at different times in different states and cities, starting in early April and extending through May. While some hospitals are already starting to drown, other hospitals that are further from their peak demand have stockpiles of unused equipment lying in wait.
"What if there was a nation-wide system that allowed hospitals that have equipment but have lower present and predicted demand to lend some reusable (ventilator) and non-reusable equipment (PPE, testing kits) to hospitals that are currently being overwhelmed? Then, as demand in one area rises and the other falls, freed up ventilators could be re-distributed, and manufacturers will have had more time to generate non-reusable equipment for hospitals that lent their equipment. By taking from stockpiles of less stressed hospitals and sharing it with currently overwhelmed ones, we could maximize the use of our national inventory of equipment and save more lives.
...
" redistribution approaches in other settings have enabled vast functional expansions of limited supplies, including kidney transplants and donated food for food pantries across the U.S. Bottom line: Redistribution has the potential to improve the trajectory of COVID-19 mortality in the U.S. Our country is already on track to employ these measures at a state level or voluntarily, so delaying set up of cross-state exchange only means missing out on the maximal benefit of redistribution. In fact, as of this writing, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo has just signed an executive order enabling redistribution of medical supplies to struggling hospitals within New York state and Oregon has sent ventilators to New York.
"In these coming trying times, our healthcare system is facing an unprecedented, deadly burden, and we need to make supplies available where they are needed most —independent of state lines. Now is the time to start making the changes, to call on the federal government, national leaders, and private partnerships to coordinate our efforts as a nation, so we can provide the best care possible with our limited supplies. Lives depend on it."
****************
* Niederle, Muriel, Deborah D. Proctor and Alvin E. Roth, ''The Gastroenterology Fellowship Match: The First Two Years,'' Gastroenterology , 135, 2 (August), 344-346, 2008.
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