Have any facilities out there experienced supply shortages due to the coronavirus? We've been regularly running out of surgical masks, supposedly due to the epidemic; the wonky replacements we've been using are pretty ridiculous (plus uncomfortable), and even those are starting to run low, too. It seems hilariously ironic to me that we're short on surgical masks, seeing as they don't actually protect against coronavirus...the people who are buying them up aren't even benefiting from them, and consequently hospitals that actually need them are running short.
If/when the virus spreads to other countries (including the US), I'm sure the shortages will only get worse. I'm personally not super excited about the thought of spending time in an N-95 respirator, although I'm fortunate that exposure in my specialty would be pretty unlikely.
It reminds me a bit of the supply shortages that happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria back in 2017 following the shut-down of affected medial equipment manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico. Our facility was running low on essentials like normal saline for months (I remember we even got an email that said not to start patients on IV fluids unless we absolutely had to). It's pretty crazy to think that hospitals can literally run out of something as basic as face masks or saline due to international disasters.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
6 minutes ago, adventure_rn said:
You make an interesting point, but again, I don't think that this subset of people are driving the supply shortages.
I also wonder if we're going to reach a point where employers will by more stringent about requiring employees who are sick to stay home, even if they don't have short-term sick pay; people who don't have vacation time stored up or an emergency fund may find themselves in a tough situation.
Honestly, the optics of having an employee who is coughing/sneezing/sniffling and wearing a face mask are terrible for businesses (especially in light of the coronavirus concerns), and would probably garner complaints from both consumers and co-workers.
We don't have public funds to cover these people who are out of work, but that's the nature of living in a capitalist society, for better or worse.
Very true.
Working Americans may find themselves unable to work, unable to pay their bills, and unable to afford the medical care and testing that is recommended. Many of them.
Working Americans may find themselves unable to work, unable to pay their bills, and unable to afford the medical care and testing that is recommended. Many of them.
I hope it doesn't come to this. But it shines a light on the reality of many working Americans who do not have the luxury of paid time off. They are going to continue to work because they also need to eat.
I have seen pictures of cats and dogs with masks on in China. The panic that seems to be gripping the globe will undoubtedly cause people to do stupid things. Of course when one wears a surgical mask, most of the air goes around it rendering it worthless against an airborne virus. Lets just hope this thing doesn't mutate into something far worse. Hopefully it will run its course by the end of Spring.
I have had a lab-mix dog and three cats during my lifetime-there is no way in heck they would allow that mask to stay on for more than a few seconds-that useless thing would be ripped off faster than. It took to get it on them
I have had a lab-mix dog and three cats during my lifetime-there is no way in heck they would allow that mask to stay on for more than a few seconds-that useless thing would be ripped off faster than. It took to get it on them
It's gloves where I worked. Right before I left the last shipment we received was only a partial one due to a shortage. The supply clerk was passing them out on the Wings and telling everybody that's all we have.
Working Americans may find themselves unable to work, unable to pay their bills, and unable to afford the medical care and testing that is recommended. Many of them.
On 3/2/2020 at 12:36 PM, KCMnurse said:
I hope it doesn't come to this. But it shines a light on the reality of many working Americans who do not have the luxury of paid time off. They are going to continue to work because they also need to eat.
Not only this but so many places especially in healthcare ironically, have such punitive call off policies that people go to work all the time when they really shouldn't. I wonder if that will change, at least short term. Even if employers stop penalizing us for calling off for now as soon as this passes and it will eventually I am pretty sure it'll gradually go back to those policies we have now.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
1 hour ago, kbrn2002 said:
Not only this but so many places especially in healthcare ironically, have such punitive call off policies that people go to work all the time when they really shouldn't. I wonder if that will change, at least short term. Even if employers stop penalizing us for calling off for now as soon as this passes and it will eventually I am pretty sure it'll gradually go back to those policies we have now.
I don't think it's especially healthcare that are expected to work when not feeling well. I think that shift workers in restaurants and retail employees don't get paid sick time and aren't easily covered to call off ill. Everywhere you go, there are workers who are in no position to take a couple of weeks of unpaid leave and employers who know it. It's sort of the American culture, I think.
Oh good lord! And the integrity of the faulty mask is already compromised Further with the makeshift eyeholes !
On 3/4/2020 at 8:24 PM, amoLucia said:
Had to call my usual CVS earlier, so I casually asked how they're managing re face mask situation Pharmacist said no problem at the present.
You got someone on the phone at CVS? It’s usually 45+ minutes to get a live person on the phone on ones near me. The health insurance companies pick up faster!
It's gloves where I worked. Right before I left the last shipment we received was only a partial one due to a shortage. The supply clerk was passing them out on the Wings and telling everybody that's all we have.
No way in hell I would work without them. Med pass is one thing but bloody and body fluids-employer better phone a friend and ask for a favor.
Not only this but so many places especially in healthcare ironically, have such punitive call off policies that people go to work all the time when they really shouldn't. I wonder if that will change, at least short term. Even if employers stop penalizing us for calling off for now as soon as this passes and it will eventually I am pretty sure it'll gradually go back to those policies we have now.
Mine just emailed us with a sick=home policy. Anyone who comes to work coughing, other typical respiratory symptoms will not be given the option to wear a mask-management has been ordered to send us home.
I do agree that once this passes the old status quo will resume
toomuchbaloney
16,095 Posts
Very true.
Working Americans may find themselves unable to work, unable to pay their bills, and unable to afford the medical care and testing that is recommended. Many of them.