Hospitals: We have enough supplies … for now
A surge in the COVID-19 outbreak could overwhelm local capacity
There are currently enough masks and gloves for health care workers on the front line fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, but local hospital officials say that won’t last long.
On Monday, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. donated nearly a million N95 and surgical masks to the state Office of Emergency Services, but those were prioritized for areas experiencing larger outbreaks and haven’t made their way to local hospitals and clinics. None of the local hospitals reported receiving donations of the N95 respirator masks that of
fer protection against the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease.
“We did have one patient donate a box of the N95 masks to Eureka,” Tory Starr, CEO of Open Door Community Health Centers, wrote in an email.
Officials at Mad River Community Hospital, Open Door Community Health Centers and St. Joseph Health said they currently have enough personal protective equipment for their staff, but that wouldn’t hold true in the event of a large outbreak.
“Right now we have masks,” said Mad River’s spokesperson Pam Floyd. “We have enough for right now, but if a surge occurs, when it occurs, that’s going to be a challenge.”
All personal protective equipment across the country is being rationed right now, Floyd said, and things like N95 masks, goggles and gloves aren’t available on the market.
As soon as someone comes in with signs of a respiratory infection, Floyd said a mask needs to be placed over their mouths to keep them from spreading the virus when they cough or sneeze.
“The people treating them need to be completely masked as well because the infection rate is almost a hundred times higher for this virus than others,” Floyd said.
Floyd said the best way the public can help protect health care workers on the front line is to stay home unless they have severe symptoms and call their primary care providers if they think they might have the illness.
Starr wrote Open Door has a centralized inventory management system for the protective equipment with daily monitoring and communication with clinics. Services have also been concentrated to conserve resources, he wrote.
“The situation is still deeply concerning as if we don’t have the proper supplies we will have to curtail services in order to protect our staff,” Starr wrote. “Currently we are fully open to serve the community” though services are mostly being done through telephone and video visits, reducing consumption of the equipment.
If the supply chain doesn’t respond better in the very near future, it’ll be an issue, he wrote.
This situation isn’t unique to local hospitals and the global supply of masks, gloves and gowns are strained, St. Joseph Health’s spokesperson Christian Hill wrote in an email.
St. Joseph Health is “doing what we need to do to conserve (personal protective equipment)” while keeping employees safe and informed of the situation, Hill wrote.
Registered nurse James Ladika said health care staff are reusing some personal protective equipment, such as the N95 masks, in a way that’s safe and won’t spread infection in order to conserve resources.
In the meantime, St. Joseph Health is part of a system that’s helping local health care teams access more protective equipment, Hill wrote.
While the hospital hasn’t received much in the way of donations yet, the community is stepping up in other ways. Retired doctors and nurses have been “calling in and saying we’re here if you need us,” Floyd said.
“We’re not bringing that staff in right now,” Floyd said, “but we’re preparing lists.”
Local residents Betsy Totten and Wendy KerrLanphere also started a campaign on Facebook called Feed the E.R. that is raising funds to provide emergency room staff with catered meals from local restaurants once or twice a week.
“But wouldn’t it be awesome if we can raise enough money to do more?” the two posted on the Facebook page for the campaign. “Imagine how much this would give to a local restaurant owner too!”
Donations can be sent through cash app Venmo to FeedtheER@gmail.com.
“The situation is still deeply concerning as if we don’t have the proper supplies we will have to curtail services in order to protect our staff.” — Tory Starr, CEO of Open Door Community Health Centers