Trump slams hospital report
PRESIDENT Donald Trump yesterday disputed the veracity of a federal survey that found hospitals faced severe shortages of coronavirus test supplies, questioning whether its conclusions were skewed by politics.
With coronavirus cases rocketing towards their expected peak, the nonpartisan Health and Human Services inspector general’s office reported on Monday morning that a shortage of tests and long waits for results were at the root of mounting problems faced by hospitals.
“Hospitals reported that severe shortages of testing supplies and extended waits for test results limited (their) ability to monitor the health of patients and staff,” the report said.
Three out of four US hospitals told the inspector general’s office they are already treating patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and they expect to be overwhelmed.
Asked by a reporter about the report’s finding on testing, Mr Trump responded: “It’s just wrong.
“Give me the name of the inspector general,” he said, then suggested without evidence: “Could politics be entered into that?”
Acting in the role of HHS inspector general is Christi A. Grimm, a career government manager who took over the position early this year in an interim capacity. “When was she appointed?” Mr Trump asked.
Mr Trump’s comments carried an edge because last Friday he announced the firing of the inspector general of the intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, for reporting to Congress the whistleblower complaint that the president tried to enlist Ukraine in investigating Joe Biden’s son.
Ms Grimm’s title is principal deputy inspector general. She began her career with the agency more than 20 years ago.
The HHS inspector general’s report was based on a telephone survey of 323 hospitals around the country, from March 23-27. With hundreds of new coronavirus cases daily, the situation is becoming more dire for many of the nation’s 6000 hospitals.
Mr Trump maintains that virus testing has been a success story for his administration. Although testing is now ramping up, it’s been a major source of complaints for weeks.
The inspector general’s report warned that hospitals’ problems are feeding off each other because of insufficient tests, slow results, scarcity of protective gear and the shortage of breathing machines.
HOSPITALS REPORTED ... SEVERE SHORTAGES OF TESTING SUPPLIES AND EXTENDED WAITS FOR TEST RESULTS
US HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES