Understanding the Impacts of Maritime Disruption Transportation to Hospital-Based Acute Health Care Supplies and Personnel in Coastal and Geographically Isolated Communities.

Objective: This study aimed to identify maritime transportation disruption impacts on available health care supplies and workers necessary to deliver hospital-based acute health care in geographically isolated communities post-disaster.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 key informants knowledgeable about the hospital-based acute health care supply chain and workforce emergency management plans and procedures in 2 coastal communities in British Columbia. These locations were accessed primarily through maritime transportation, including one urban center and one smaller, more remote community.