NAIR was one of the first locations in Puerto Rico to have power restored after Hurricane Maria, suffering no structural damage. After the hurricane, NAIR's daily patient population decreased from 15 to 7 as many patients moved to the US, though NAIR has since received 10 new patients. The practice was initially affected by a lack of internet and phone lines, but the doctor forwarded calls to his mobile phone and used social media to communicate. NAIR plans to start a new media campaign in 2018, expand collaborations formed during hurricane relief efforts, increase research, accept more insurance providers to gain patients who relocated to Florida, and transition to electronic medical records.

1. Team NAIR
NAIR POST MARIA
Fully operational, NAIR has
shown great resilience in the
aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Located in the Condado area,
NAIR was one of the first
locations to have power restored
a week after Hurricane Maria
passed through Puerto Rico.
Strategically located next to
Ashford Presbyterian
Community Hospital, one of the
main hospitals in the San Juan
area, the medical building nor the
NAIR offices suffered any
structural damages.
HOW WAS PRACTICE
AFFECTED INMEDIATLY
AFTER MARIA
The practice was affected by
different variables. First, the
patient population changed from
15 daily infused patients to 7
infused patients a day. Dr.
Morales Borges estimates that
NAIR lost 25 treatment patients.
These patients moved to the USA.
Dr. Morales Borges expects that
50% will return to Puerto Rico by
early 2018. However, NAIR has
received 10 new patients since
Maria.
The lack of internet and landlines
interrupted his primary methods
of communication. To
accommodate the loss of
communication with patients, Dr.
Morales Borges forwarded the
office landline phone to his
personal mobile phone. He
communicated with patients
personally and by using social
media platforms.
OPPORTUNITIES POST MARIA
Before Maria, NAIR had a
successful public relations
campaign. Dr. Morales Borges
attended diverse TV
programming related to
medicine, had articles in various
magazines and advertisements,
including high digital media
presence. Public relations
enhanced Dr. Borges practice
before the hurricane, and it is the
plan of NAIR to start a new
media campaign in early 2018
regarding the changes post
Maria.
Also, another opportunity NAIR
is pursuing is the collaboration
and the privileges with other
hospitals. During the hurricane
events, Dr. Borges worked with
other organizations during the
relief process, establishing
collaborations and partnerships
that will continue growing.
FUTURE PLANS
Dr. Morales Borges plans to
increase research in NAIR in
2018. He has already established
conversations with a variety of
investigators.
The loss of patients to Florida has
provided another opportunity to
NAIR. The opportunity
encompasses the inclusion of
diverse health insurances.
Also the relocation of doctors has
provided an opportunity for
NAIR to increase patients in their
facility.
NAIR is working on changing the
office records management from
paper base to electronic records.
Dr. Morales Borges mentioned
the importance of having
electronic records not just for
patient care, but also for research.
NAIR is working on establishing
an electronic records system that
will include a research
component. NAIR is in the
process of adding an oncologist,
and an urologist. Sub-
investigators.
Fully functional NAIR is
resilience and moving forward.
New Alliance Integrative Research
Post Maria Success Story
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