Puerto Rico's healthcare before and after three major disasters
The Puerto Rico Healthcare System Before and After Three Public Health Disasters
This project looks at how hospitals, clinics, and emergency care in Puerto Rico changed and how those changes affected adults' access to care after Hurricane Maria, the earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370850 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a Puerto Rico resident, the research reviews medical records, clinic and hospital administrative data, and public health reports to compare health service use before, during, and after each disaster. The team also gathers firsthand experiences from patients and health care workers through interviews or surveys to understand missed care, emergency visits, and staffing or supply shortages. They map where and when services were disrupted to spot patterns and resilience factors. The goal is to identify practical steps that could keep care available and reduce harm in future disasters.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who lived in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, the 2019–2020 earthquakes, or the COVID-19 pandemic and who used hospitals, clinics, or emergency departments are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People who did not receive care in Puerto Rico during those events or who live outside Puerto Rico are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform policies and preparedness changes that reduce care disruptions and improve access during future disasters.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown single disasters harm health services and patient access, but examining back-to-back natural disasters plus a pandemic in Puerto Rico is more novel and aims to build on earlier findings.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortega, Alexander N — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Ortega, Alexander N
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.