NEW

Getinge, Cook Medical Reach iCast Distribution Agreement

Getinge and Cook Medical have announced an exclusive sales and distribution agreement for the iCast covered stent system.

Endorail Earns FDA 510(k) clearance: Next-generation magnetic balloon technology optimizes colonoscopy procedural outcomes

Endostart, a pioneering medical device company specializing in gastrointestinal endoscopy solutions, HAS announces a major breakthrough with the FDA 510(k) clearance of its flagship product, Endorail. This achievement represents a significant step forward in advancing...

Survey: Nurse Shortage a Leading Threat to Industry

In honor of Certified Nurses Day, health tech company Carta Healthcare®, whose mission is to harness the value of clinical data, today released the results of a survey about the pain points that health care professionals are currently experiencing. The survey also...

Modular Lab Furniture Systems Meet Needs

UniLine Furniture offerings from HEMCO Corp. include base cabinets, wall cabinets, countertops, sinks, fixtures, base tables, mobile work stations, specialty storage cabinets and peg boards.

ABSTRACT: Creativity in Chaos: COVID-19 and PPE

By Patricia James, BS, RN, CNOR

Background: Since February 2020 COVID-19 became almost synonymous with personal protective equipment (PPE). Gowns, N-95 masks, and face shields were required in intensive care units (ICU)s, floor units as well as the operating rooms (OR). To protect the limited supply of the PPE in the OR, a tight supply chain inventory was needed to prevent shortages or product disappearance.

Methods: All surgical masks were removed from outside ORs. An allotted number of surgical masks were bagged up and given daily to the circulator assigned to the room, sign out and sign in upon return of masks. Inventory of the number of masks used was noted daily in the inventory reports. N-95 masks requests were signed out to the individual. Assigned N-95 masks were reprocessed through Bioquell® technology. Once reprocessed and returned to the OR, a shoe storage bag slot was labeled with the employee’s name for pick up. One OR office was turned into a locked perioperative hospital store manned 24/7. All PPE allotted to the perioperative services (anesthesia, pre/post anesthesia, surgery and nursing) is stored, maintained and inventoried. Controlled air purifying respirators (CAPRs), batteries for CAPRs and CAPR shields kept in this office, are signed out and returned to perioperative hospital storeroom at end of shift. Additional efforts included returning to using cloth isolation gowns during intubation and extubation to prevent overuse of plastic isolation gowns that were in very limited supply.

Results: Staff that needed accommodation away from patient care were assigned to the perioperative hospital store. In conjunction with perioperative supply chain a daily inventory completed to determine need of products in a timely manner. Staffed 24/7, access to needed supplies were maintained in a secure location, yet accessible when needed.

Conclusion: During an unprecedented time, rethinking normal practices, reducing usage of disposable gowns, maintaining a close inventory and using out of the box thinking provides needed resources both in product and manpower.

– Patricia James, BS, RN, CNOR, is the Nurse Manager Main OR at the University of Rochester. She may be reached via email at patricia_james@urmc.rochester.edu


References

Center for Disease Control and Preventation. (2020, April 20). Considerations for Optimizing the Supply of Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs). Retrieved April 23, 2020, from CDC: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention (CDC). (2020, April 20). Information for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from CDC: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Preventation. (2020, March 23). Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators. Retrieved March 24, 2020, from CDC: www.cdc.gov

Duke University. (2020, March 26). Decontamination and Reuse of N95 Respirators with Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://www.safety.duke.edu: https://www.safety.duke.edu

US Food & Drug Administration. (2020, March 23). Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) permitting the Battelle Decontamination System. Retrieved March 26, 2020, from https://www.fda.gov/media/136529/download: www.fda.gov

US Food & Drug Administration. (2020, March 29). Investigating Decontamination and Reuse of Respirators in Public Health Emergencies. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from www.fda.gov: www.fda.gov

 

Previous

Next

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

X