In hospitals, clinics and long-term care locations, personal protective equipment has been a vital part of providing health care for generations.
Initially, there were concerns that the supply of these items — things like masks, gowns, gloves and face shields — wouldn’t meet demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. A shortage had the potential to create situations that would undermine safety.
Caregivers and health care institutions like Sanford Health and the Good Samaritan Society had to adjust to new guidelines that emphasized both the need and importance of PPE. Now that the coronavirus is part of life, fears that the system would be overwhelmed remain.
PPE supply remains a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.
“We are not in a desperate situation at all,” said Dean Weber, Sanford Health vice president of supply chain management. “We have worked really hard and have been successful in gathering the right supplies for our caregivers.”
Pandemic conditions remain, however, meaning that higher demand for PPE will also persist.
Creating a barrier
“For nurses and health care workers, personal protective equipment is an added barrier between themselves and ill or infectious people,” said Rochelle Rindels, vice president of nursing and clinical Services for the Good Samaritan Society.
“In health care we’ve always been familiar with the use of PPE. During the pandemic it’s become increasingly important, even in non-health care settings. The best preventative measure is good hand hygiene and protecting yourself by using social distancing and appropriately using PPE.”
Related: How Sanford Health is keeping clinics safe
While guidelines vary from state to state — Sanford Health and the Good Samaritan Society operate in 26 different states — it all starts with a mask. All caregivers are required to wear masks at all Sanford Health and Good Samaritan Society locations. Rindels anticipates these guidelines will be in place for the foreseeable future.
“As an organization, we’re expecting this high PPE use to extend into at least the beginning of 2021,” she said. “We’re looking at least another six or eight months of increased PPE use and wearing masks.”
Steady PPE supply
All of which means the challenges of supplying PPE at Sanford Health and Good Samaritan Society locations will continue. Fortunately, staff has a plan in place.
“It bodes well for our future that we have the products in hand that we need,” Weber said. “We don’t have to succumb to impulse buys for equipment.”
The goal is creating stable conditions. It was important before the pandemic hit. Now it’s crucial.
“When we work hard to create sustainability, whether it’s through standardization or approaching our supply needs with a logical intent, we can continue to invest in our technology and processes,” Weber said. “When we’re accomplishing that, we don’t have to be held hostage by some of the things that are happening in our country right now.”
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Posted In COVID-19, Frequently Asked Questions, Senior Services, Workplace Health