How leading with values helped Medtronic respond to Hurricane Maria

When the mega-storm struck Puerto Rico, its devastation went far beyond the island’s citizenry,  disrupting a supply chain to health care facilities worldwide. The company mission was a beacon.

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Puerto Rico has been a central part of Medtronic’s manufacturing and product development operations since 1974. Our company has five major manufacturing centers and employs more than 5,000 people on the island.

Medtronic products manufactured in Puerto Rico are shipped to health care providers around the world, and any supply disruption can delay the delivery of critical health care products to patients.

So, when Hurricane Maria descended on Puerto Rico in September 2017, we knew our Medtronic family members and operations there were at serious risk and that the storm had the potential to affect the health care of millions of people.

No one fully comprehended the devastation Maria would produce. All our facilities suffered significant damage. More than 130 employees’ homes were destroyed, and virtually all of our employees’ homes sustained damage. Power was out at all facilities and would take months to be restored, and all major communication channels were disrupted.

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