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Tracheostomy Supply Shortages are Threatening Patient Health

by Jennifer Fink •

This isn’t always possible, however, particularly given the current shortage of healthcare workers. Do your best to create connections between departments and with community providers. Schedule a meeting with your colleagues in pulmonary and trauma medicine to establish routine follow-up practices for all patients who undergo a tracheotomy.

  • Advocate for patient needs. “We need people speaking for us,” said Evans. “Some people literally don’t have a voice on these issues.” Clearly communicate your patients’ needs to other professionals involved in their care and help them fight insurance denials. Share patient concerns with your colleagues and legislators. Powerful advocacy is needed to ensure insurance coverage of necessary medical supplies.
  • Work with industry. Physicians have more power than patients, at least in the eyes of manufacturers who are eager to sell their supplies. Physician feedback matters and is carefully considered. “We’ve become more purposeful about having meaningful discussions with industry partners about how their products perform in the real world, and what we need that their products don’t deliver,” said Dr. Brenner.