Protective equipment: What Butler County hospitals need, and how you can help

Personal protective equipment is in demand among Butler County hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak and health systems are working on ways to let individuals and organizations donate supplies.

Atrium Medical Center has all the personal protective equipment it needs, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Burcham. Conversation is ongoing about potential future demand, she said, and whether there will be enough such equipment during later stages of the pandemic.

“Our focus has been ensuring that we do not overuse PPE outside of recommended situations to ensure we can maintain an adequate supply if and when a higher number of cases challenges our health care system,” Burcham said. “Many people are working proactively to address that long-term need, including ways to extend the life of our PPE equipment.”

Premier Health is accepting donations of unused surgical gowns, face masks, surgical masks, gloves, respirators, isolation gowns, face shields, thermometers, foot coverings, ventilator tubing and protective coveralls. Send an email to HelpingHands@premierhealth.com to coordinate a drop-off or pick-up of donated items.

To learn about other ways to help, visit www.premierhealth.com/covid19help.

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Kettering Health Network, which operates Fort Hamilton Hospital and Kettering Health Middletown, continues to monitor usage and patient volumes, and evaluate all options for sourcing supplies, according to spokeswoman Elizabeth Long. Resources and stock are being moved and deployed to its hospitals and facilities as necessary, Long said.

“We are amazed and feel truly blessed by the outpouring of support from the public,” she said. “Health care providers are just one of many groups on the front line of caring for our population during this pandemic.”

Kettering Health facilities need N-95 masks, surgical masks, procedural masks, medical goggles and glasses, shoe covers, medical gowns, gloves and hand sanitizer with greater than 62 percent alcohol.

Donations can be made at the main entrance of any hospital or free-standing emergency department, and all donations will be screened to ensure packaging is intact, sealed and safe for use. Donations also may be made at www.ketteringhealth.org/foundation/forthamiltonfoundation.

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Mercy Health is accepting donations of goggles, face shields, masks, latex gloves and Tyvek suits. To make a supply donation or to find out facilities to donate to, write to APRush@bshsi.org with subject line: DONATION or call 888-383-8000.

To protect the health and safety of its patients and care teams, donations should not be brought directly to any Mercy Health facilities.

Additional needs or details regarding donated supplies will be updated at www.mercy.com. Mercy Health said its quality, safety, supply chain and clinical teams are working together to evaluate the donations being gathered.

The Cincinnati Art Museum and its curators and staff donated 1,700 latex gloves and 160 masks to Mercy Health.

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UC Health is postponing elective and nonessential surgical procedures to conserve PPE, according to spokeswoman Amanda Nageleisen.

The health system, which includes West Chester Hospital, asks that anyone who wishes to make a donation of supplies, food or other items to write to donations@uchealth.com.

“UC Health is grateful for the outpouring of support we have seen from the community regarding donating supplies, food and other items,” Nageleisen said. “While we appreciate the public’s desire to donate items, we must first prioritize the health and safety of our employees, clinicians and patients.”

Food and nonperishable items may not be accepted in clinical care settings and, due to federal and state health care laws, UC Health cannot accept cash or gift cards.

Mike Everett, president of McCullough-Hyde and Bethesda Butler hospitals, said parent company TriHealth manages the student health center for Miami University.

The experience of two students suspected of having coronavirus — which they did not — inspired TriHealth to start planning early.

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“Our supply chain went to work to order additional supplies and we also have taken steps to conserve them, such as cancelling elective surgeries, so right now, all of our locations have supplies, but that will be tested over the weeks ahead,” Everett said.

TriHealth does have businesses and members of the community donating masks, gloves and cleaning wipes to its hospitals, generally leaving them at the main entrances, he said. Many have donated food to caregivers.

All mask and glove donations are sent to a central inspection center for TriHealth to confirm they are adequate for use in its facilities and then sent back to the facility where they were donated, Everett said.

“We are exceedingly grateful to the community for supporting our caregivers during this pandemic,” he said.


HOW TO DONATE

Bon Secours Mercy Health (Mercy Health-Fairfield Hospital)

• Contact APRush@bshsi.org, subject line: DONATION, or call 888-383-8000 before contributing supplies such as goggles, face shields, masks, latex gloves and Tyvek suits.

• Make a financial donation to support Mercy Health teams: foundation.mercy.com/covid-19.

• Step-by-step instructions for creating masks are available for download at www.tinyurl.com/FilterPocketFaceMask.

• To make a supply donation or to find out facilities to donate to, write to APRush@bshsi.org with subject line: DONATION or call 888-383-8000. To protect the health and safety of its patients and care teams, donations should not be brought directly to any Mercy Health facilities.

Premier Health (Atrium Medical Center)

• Premier Health is accepting donations of unused surgical gowns, face masks, surgical masks, gloves, respirators, isolation gowns, face shields, thermometers, foot coverings, ventilator tubing and protective coveralls.

• Write to HelpingHands@premierhealth.com to coordinate a drop-off or pick-up of donated items.

• To learn about other ways to help, visit www.premierhealth.com/covid19help.

Kettering Health Network (Fort Hamilton Hospital and Kettering Health Middletown)

• Needs N-95 masks, surgical masks, procedural masks, medical goggles and glasses, shoe covers, medical gowns, gloves and hand sanitizer with greater than 62 percent alcohol.

• Donations can be made at the main entrance of any hospital or free-standing emergency department, and all donations will be screened to ensure packaging is intact, sealed and safe for use.

• Donations also may be made at www.ketteringhealth.org/foundation/forthamiltonfoundation.

UC Health (West Chester Hospital

• To make a donation of supplies, food or other items to write to donations@uchealth.com.

• Food and nonperishable items may not be accepted in clinical care settings and, due to federal and state health care laws, UC Health cannot accept cash or gift cards.

TriHealth

• Businesses and members of the community donating masks, gloves and cleaning wipes to its hospitals, generally leaving them at the main entrances.

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