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Help protect our inventory by preserving personal protective equipment

Penn State Health has secured an adequate stock of supplies to ensure safe care and a safe environment to work. Given the surge in COVID patients and the challenge to ensure the health system continues to have the supplies, employees are asked to be extra diligent with their efforts to preserve face masks — especially small N95 respirators — and other personal protective equipment.

Supply chain personnel are working to ensure staff have the supplies for their safety and to be able to deliver safe patient care. Richard Bagley, senior vice president and chief supply officer at Penn State Health, also wants employees to remember the personal protective equipment (PPE) they receive in the weeks ahead may not be the exact item they are used to.

To preserve the supply of masks, employees must not throw away their masks after usage but instead follow guidelines for storage and reuse.

  • Guidelines for proper use and storage of procedure/surgical masks can be found here
  • Guidelines for storage and extended use of N95 respirator masks can be found here.

In addition to masks, health care employees around the globe are facing a shortage of Nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves should be used in clinical and procedural areas. Alternative vinyl gloves will be provided to staff for use in nonclinical areas. This change will be implemented shortly.

As an alternative to using dry wipes with Perioxigard, Supply Chain has secured Oxivir wipes, which are approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Supply Chain will distribute the wipes first to nursing areas with limited counter space.

Supply Chain staff continue to support care providers throughout the pandemic by safeguarding inventories and procuring CDC-recommended personal protection equipment. Bagley appreciates the patience and understanding of employees.

“As the surge in COVID causes new supply chain issues,” Bagley said, “we are thankful of our staff’s flexibility in using newly procured products that they might not be as familiar with.”

Bagley noted that some employees or members of the public concerned about the availability of supplies may try to obtain their own in an effort to help. Penn State Health is unable to accept these self-procured or donated items since many do not meet the health system’s regulatory requirements for use.

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.

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