Cause of Oxygen and Mechanical Ventilator Shortages in the Atlanta Area Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and Impact on Healthcare Settings

Background

 In the Atlanta area, hospitals experienced oxygen and mechanical ventilator (MV) shortages. The exact reasons why these shortages occurred is not understood. The aim is to discover measures to implement to avoid future shortages  The research questions are:  

What was the extent of Atlanta area oxygen or MV shortages? 

What factors contributed to oxygen and MV supply issues before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic  

How did hospitals in the Atlanta area mitigate effects of experienced shortages? 

Methods   

The research methodology used an anonymous survey instrument to ask Atlanta area hospitals about current shortages in oxygen and MVs. After IRB approval, the survey was emailed to RTs that worked in GSU affiliated hospitals. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 28. 

Results    

Of the 45 potential participants, 21 responded to the survey for a 54% response rate. 76% of facilities (16) did not experience an oxygen shortage over the past 20 months. However, 62% (13) facilities did experience a MV shortage. 60% of the MV shortages experienced lasted three weeks or less.  90% of the facilities that obtained additional MVs obtained traditional ventilators.  

Conclusion   

While Atlanta area hospitals did report some shortages, these shortages were short-lived. Oxygen transportation issues, then oxygen supply issues were the top reasons contributing to the oxygen shortage. 

Atlanta area hospitals frequently ordered oxygen, and some implemented oxygen conserving triage methods to mitigate the effects of a shortage. Quick implementation of additionally obtained MVs helped lessen effects of the MV shortages.  

Limitations include reliance on respondents for accuracy of data provided. Memory might have made certain data points less accurate. Another limitation is that 21 respondents is a low response rate and is a lack of generalizability. Future research should be geared towards enhancing the MV national stockpile and improvement of oxygen supply transportation.