QUESTION: We have limited masks and are still seeing patients. Our vendors and distributors have put limits on the amount and frequency of shipments. This is obviously a concern for both our staff and patients. Can you provide us with some options to find additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so we can continue to safely care for our patients?
Question from Paterson, NJ Subscriber
PPE Shortage ANSWER:
You have a few options available to you that fall into two main categories:
1. Reduce Usage:
- Use triage as a way to ensure that adequate PPE is available for patients whose appointments are the most urgent.
- Schedule patients at risk either early in the morning or later in the day and have the office sanitized between the groups.
- If you have multiple locations, designate specific locations based on COVID-19 symptoms. Then you can focus your PPE usage at only those locations that are seeing potentially infected patients.
2. Find More Masks:
- Alert your state/local health department and local healthcare coalition of your PPE shortage. Typically, they are best positioned to help you overcome temporary PPE shortfalls.
- Report your PPE shortage to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) at deviceshortages@fda.hhs.gov.
Check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Here you can monitor the availability of PPE and request guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/healthcare-supply-ppe.html
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