Study results unveiled at the 53rd Annual Convention and Exhibition of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) this December, have revealed that most hospital respiratory therapy directors noted they have less than 24 hours of oxygen supply to meet a surge in demand, according to Airgas Puritan Medical.
The results of the 2007 Disaster Preparedness Study indicated that while most of the respiratory therapy directors said their hospitals had a dedicated supply of portable oxygen cylinders for a disaster or pandemic, most also said that they have less than 24 hours of oxygen to meet a surge need. The majority of those surveyed are also apparently counting on supplies to replenish oxygen supplies within 6 hours of a disaster.
According to the study, 80% of those surveyed said their hospitals maintained a dedicated supply of portable oxygen cylinders for a disaster or pandemic, yet 60% admitted to having less than 100 cylinders on hand in a typical month and 58% said their supply would be used up by a 40-patient surge in 24 hours.
It would appear that concerns are rife as to the ability to maintain an adequate supply of oxygen and possibly replenishing both portable oxygen cylinders and bulk tanks. Up to 58% of hospital respiratory therapy directors expect their medical gas supplier will be able to replenish supply within just 6 hours in an emergency situation, but others, however, are less optimistic.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
