Community Corner
Chicago-Area Nurses Among Those Nationwide Needing PPE
If you've wondered what you can do to help Illinois healthcare workers spending days and nights caring for coronavirus patients, here's how.
CHICAGO, IL — As hospitals and healthcare centers across the Chicago area continue requesting personal protective equipment (PPE) donations, the American Nurses Association president recently revealed results from a survey of nurses across the country about their access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and other concerns regarding their work environment. Just last month a Chicago emergency room nurse told Patch that her floor and hospital needs all the help and donations (PPE) they can get. On Wednesday, Patch was told medical staff and residents at Hearthstone Communities in Woodstock are in need of PPE donations to protect their senior residents and medical staff.
Because of the urgent need for PPE across Chicago and the suburbs, Patch reached out to area hospitals and did some searching in hopes of finding out what each place needs, and how to donate. If you've wondered what you can do to help healthcare workers spending days and nights caring for coronavirus patients, or have voiced your interest in helping, this is your chance.
According to a news release from the American Nurses Association, findings from more than 20,000 respondents include 76 percent of nurses reported being extremely concerned about PPE, while 66 percent reported being out or short of N95 respirators. In addition, 62 percent reported being out of or short of full-face shields, and 61 percent were out or short of surgical masks, and 69 percent reported concerns about working short-staffed, the release said.
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"Without the right PPE, nurses are concerned about unintentionally transmitting the virus to patients under their care, or to those in their communities," ANA said, in the news release. "According to our survey, 85% also worry about keeping their families safe from becoming infected."
Find out what's happening in Algonquin-Lake In The Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
An ICU nurse at a Chicago hospital told Patch that she and staff members are constantly being told things about the route of transmission of the coronavirus.
"My biggest fear is I will unknowingly bring it home and pass it to a loved one," the ICU nurse told Patch.
Related: PPE, Meals Needed At Chicago-Area Hospitals, Centers: Local List
A recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General said they recently did a national study of hospitals' challenges and needs in responding to the coronavirus.
"We have collected this information as an aid for HHS as it continues to lead efforts to address the public health emergency and support hospitals and other first responders," the report reads.
At the time of their interviews — March 23 through 27 — hospitals reported "pressing needs for government assistance to help meet COVID-19 response challenges," the report said, adding that the actions hospitals described fall into five categories: 1) assistance with testing, supplies, and equipment (e.g., PPE); 2) assistance with workforce allocation; 3) assistance with capacity of facilities; 4) financial assistance; and 5) communication and public information.
If you work at a hospital or local health center in the Chicago area and know of any donation opportunities (food, items, masks and more), please email rebecca.bream@patch.com with the hospital or health center name and the type of donation being sought in the subject line, followed by any other helpful details in the email.
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