Understanding the Impacts of Maritime Disruption Transportation to Hospital-Based Acute Health Care Supplies and Personnel in Coastal and Geographically Isolated Communities.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify maritime transportation disruption impacts on available health care supplies and workers necessary to deliver hospital-based acute health care in geographically isolated communities post-disaster.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 key informants knowledgeable about the hospital-based acute health care supply chain and workforce emergency management plans and procedures in 2 coastal communities in British Columbia. These locations were accessed primarily through maritime transportation, including one urban center and one smaller, more remote community. Interview transcriptions were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Critical vulnerabilities to hospital-based acute health care delivery due to a maritime transportation disruption identified include lack of information about the existing supply chain, lack of formal plans and agreements, and limited local supply storage and workforce capacity. Measures to decrease vulnerability and enhance system capacity can be fostered to enhance acute health care system resilience for these and other geographically isolated communities.

CONCLUSIONS

A maritime transportation disruption has the potential to impact the availability of hospital-based health care supplies and health care personnel necessary to deliver acute health care in coastal communities post-disaster. Multisector engagement is required to address complex interdependencies and competing priorities in emergency response. Additional research and public-private collaboration is necessary to quantify potential impacts of maritime transportation disruption on the acute health care system. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:440-448).