Hospitals suffer from lack of COVID-19 supplies, wait for assistance
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Nurses and other healthcare professionals across the United States are currently on the front lines of trying to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, but some are worried they don't have the protection necessary for their job.
Officials at the Colorado Nurses Association said in a response to KRDO, "many facilities have had to adjust to limited Personal Protective Equipment for the clinical workforce in hospitals, clinics, and all facilities."
Executives at the association say they're counting on promised assistance from the state and the federal government.
But officials from the Colorado Hospital Association told KRDO they don't think the state and federal supplies will be enough, so they're getting thrifty. Some hospitals have started making their own homemade protective gear out of available materials.
"It's terrific that when a hospital has a need and can foresee that they're going to need something that they don't have or can't resource, or can't supply, that they come up with a creative solution," said Julie Lonborg, a spokesperson for the hospital association.
Meanwhile the association is asking other industries to help out.
"[We're seeing] if there are clothing manufacturers in our area that can help us by creating and sewing masks and perhaps even gowns if those also become something that we need more of," explained Lonborg.
Lonborg says they're taking ideas and insight from areas hit with the outbreak before Colorado.
"We've had an opportunity to hear from some of the states that are about seven to ten days ahead of us," she said. "To hear, ten days later, what do you wish you knew ten days ago that you would do differently?"
Lonborg says they're also working to free up as many ICU hospital beds in the state as possible.
When it comes to testing, she says they don't have enough resources for mass testing right now, so they're prioritizing healthcare professionals and people with severe symptoms to try and slow the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible.
