⚡️THREAD ⚡️ On Friday, I told the story of a Northwestern Memorial Hospital psychiatrist whose unit did not use protective gear like masks and gowns, known as #PPE. She works in a communal space, where patients can mingle over board games. @WBEZ @WBEZpolitics @NPR
Here's how @RonkePedersonMD put it: 'It’s kind of like telling a soldier to go to war and bring back the enemy with them into their community, cause that’s what we’re doing without PPE.' #GetMePPE #GetMePPEChicago @GovPritzker
I'm hearing about this every day from health care workers on the front lines in the Chicago area -- that they don’t have enough #PPE. That nurses & doctors are reusing masks, and even gowns if they’re not soiled.
Chicago leaders, including the city's public health dept, say they are dipping into their stockpile of supplies to help hospitals. In the last 2 weeks, the city has distributed 1 million+ pieces of #PPE to local medical facilities around Chicago. @WBEZ @WBEZpolitics
Still, a spokesman for the Chicago Dept. of Public Health says demand will start to outpace supply. The agency still will not tell @WBEZ how much is in the stockpile. This is key to understanding if there are enough masks, gowns, face shields, etc., to go around. @WBEZpolitics
Keep in mind this is not just a Chicago problem. This is a global crisis. @GovPritzker has been racing to get more #PPE. Here's what he's up against, via @washingtonpost tinyurl.com/w5x5qga #GetMePPE
So there is this new reality. Nurses & doctors are stretching how long they use their #PPE. @LurieChildrens providers ink their names on their masks & carry them in a paper bag all day. That's their mask unless it’s soiled or they need to toss it for another reason. @innovatedoc
There's also this. Critics say the #PPEshortage shows that hospitals were probably using too much protective equipment before the pandemic.
