Counting on Ventilators

[indigo girl]

http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/08/counting-on-ventilators.html

I really hate that this info will not be available. What's with that? What is the point of hiding the numbers?

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contracted with the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to perform a comprehensive inventory of mechanical ventilators in every hospital in the country. A survey is being taken to gain an accurate account of the number of ventilators that would be available in the event of a nationwide pandemic.

The Office of Preparedness and Response requested this inventory information "as the nation braces for the nH1N1 virus that may affect record numbers of Americans," according to an announcement from AARC. The announcement goes on to explain, "Initial experience shows that many individuals are placed on ventilators as a result of this flu."

All information gained from the survey will be kept in confidence and will not be available through the Freedom of Information Act. The AARC clarifies that no relocation of ventilators will be performed as a result of this survey; the information is sought so that the government can acquire or assist in augmenting current ventilator capacity.

[oramar]

The much maligned NHS in UK is way ahead of us on this. Canada also has a leg up on this. Mean while there are hordes of people who will tell you about the evils of a centralized, socialized system. They are about to find out the benefits of such a system.