From Natural Disaster to Pandemic

Mark Sullivan
Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer,
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

In early March 2020, a tornado destroyed the health system’s warehouse for storage of most clinical supplies, including personal protective equipment and fluids. The pharmacy purchasing team collaborated with suppliers and manufacturers to recover losses and establish alternative storage areas. Days later, the pharmacy department was forced to address the impending COVID-19 pandemic.  This report featured in the May 16 edition of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy describes a Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s pharmacy team response to a natural disaster while staff members simultaneously prepared for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. “By detailing our experience, we hope to help other institutions that are current facing or could encounter similar crises.” 

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