The situation in Puerto Rico’s healthcare system is far more vulnerable than those in Texas or Florida, according to an article on the Stat website.
Relief workers have prioritized efforts to get hospitals and other healthcare facilities operating again, and the Navy dispatched the hospital ship USNS Comfort, which has 250 beds.
As of Oct. 12, nearly all Puerto Rican hospitals were open, although some are still dependent on generators. The Puerto Rican government said electricity has been restored to more than half. Nearly all of the dialysis centers are operating now, though many patients have missed treatments.
But Katia León, deputy director of primary care for the Association of Primary Care in Puerto Rico, said she believes the population’s health has worsened since the storm hit.
Building Hospital Resilience in an Era of Extreme Weather
From Cooling Towers to Cost Savings: Hospital Seizes Power-Saving Opportunity
Design Standards as Strategic Assets
Rising Violence is Exposing Gaps in Hospital Security
Murray County Medical Center Reports Data Security Incident