Preparing for the Storm: Hospitals Scramble to Find Vital Supplies

A horse, a horse!  My kingdom for a horse!   That familiar phrase, first uttered in Act V of Shakespeare’s Richard III, reminds us that sometimes seemingly unimportant or everyday items can become downright invaluable given the right situation.  Trading an entire kingdom for a single steed is quite the bargain if your very life or life’s calling is contingent upon that particular animal at that particular moment.  That is the situation we now face in the healthcare environment. Because of the transmission capabilities of the coronavirus (COVID-19), our medical personnel need special masks and other personal protection equipment (PPE) to keep from contracting the virus themselves.  Because COVID-19 patients often experience pneumonia-like symptoms, devices such as ventilators are in desperate demand.  More patient beds may be needed, as well.