In hospitals across the country, there is a practice known as the Morbidity and Mortality (M & M) Conference, to analyze any loss of life that may have been preventable to continuously improve the quality of care and save future lives.
As the state of New York moves past the COVID-19 surge and continues to be on high alert to prevent another wave, the entire healthcare system is performing an M & M of sorts to determine what worked and what must work better in the future.
Our policymakers, too, should be using the lesson that we have learned to create public policies that do more to support our nation’s healthcare supply chain and ensure that our dedicated and tireless medical providers have the medicines, medical devices, and pharmaceutical supplies they need to keep the entire state safe.
In addition to the basics, such as staple medications and medical-grade disinfectants, our hospitals need the most innovative medical technology available. With a disease such as COVID-19 that delivers a sudden and overwhelming shock to the respiratory system and organs, ventilators, heart-lung machines and sophisticated dialysis provide the critical life-sustaining functions our bodies need until they heal themselves and are able to sustain life again on their own.
When COVID-19 struck, there was a period of paralysis as government at all levels sought to marshal resources that existed at various strata, with each level frequently unaware of what was available outside of their sphere. As time went on, a fuller understanding was gained, existing resources were allocated and orders were placed to meet current and anticipated needs. Going forward, everything possible must be done in advance to reduce this reaction period.
While our nation develops and produces the most innovative medical devices in the world, production and usage is not a matter of simply flipping a switch. These devices must be accompanied by the appropriate medications needed for effective use. It is because of the strong pharmaceutical supply chain and the rapid response and effective communication of these manufacturing and distribution companies during the pandemic that hospitals, doctors and other caregivers could use critical medical equipment to treat patients.
Rather than being caught in a position where government is forced to react and play catch-up, as a nation we must develop public policy that encourages government agencies to proactively plan for public health emergencies and support the industries that produce the medical equipment and medications that allow our doctors and nurses to provide the finest health care in the world.
The federal, state, and local government should use the expertise of our public health and supply chain experts to advise their future decisions and the resources needed to prepare. The midst of a crisis is not the time to ask the question, “what should we do?”
COVID-19 continues to be a painful wake-up call, but together we can learn from its tragic lessons and reduce the suffering and loss of life from any future pandemic.
Peter Fields
San Pablo Court
Amherst
