PPE woes!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

I have been having a hard time finding PPE, thermometers that are decently priced. Everyone is capitalizing on this pandemic to increase the cost to consumers when it comes to medical equipment. Non touch Thermometers that once cost less than $60 are now over $100.

Has anyone been able to find PPE all from one vendor or are you having to use multiple vendors?

Would you like to share with the good of the group on who you are using?

I am hitting road blocks every where I look. I ordered masks back in April still have not received and just reached out to the company and they still have no idea when they will be shipped. We are required to have PPE before we can reopen the school, don't have it in the school we don't open.

1 mask for each Faculty/staff/ student

1 box of gloves in every classroom/ office/ occupied space

at least 15 isolation gowns/ goggles

Plus what is needed in the clinic to ensure there is enough stock for me to use on an as needed basis. ?

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Specializes in School nursing.
On 7/1/2020 at 11:40 AM, msilcox said:

I have been having a hard time finding PPE, thermometers that are decently priced. Everyone is capitalizing on this pandemic to increase the cost to consumers when it comes to medical equipment. Non touch Thermometers that once cost less than $60 are now over $100.

Has anyone been able to find PPE all from one vendor or are you having to use multiple vendors?

Would you like to share with the good of the group on who you are using?

I am hitting road blocks every where I look. I ordered masks back in April still have not received and just reached out to the company and they still have no idea when they will be shipped. We are required to have PPE before we can reopen the school, don't have it in the school we don't open.

1 mask for each Faculty/staff/ student

1 box of gloves in every classroom/ office/ occupied space

at least 15 isolation gowns/ goggles

Plus what is needed in the clinic to ensure there is enough stock for me to use on an as needed basis. ?

What state are you in? I've been ordering PPE since May to prep and luckily my school just told me to spend the money, which I know so many people haven't heard. (I was given money not spent last year to try and order what I could before fiscal year closed).

But touches thermometers were pricing at $75. I just ordered a ton of masks and gowns and KN95 masks from WB Mason of all places.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Emergency Room, School Nurse.

I too was having problems with ordering PPE. In fact I ordered masks in April and I still have not received them and they may not even be here in time for school to start in late Aug.

However I have been able to find decent prices on Amazon and fast delivery. Normally I wouldn't look on there for medical needs, but after running out of options I turned to them.

I was able to purchase a bulk set of non contact thermometers for $212.00 and I have already received them. Same thing with PPE I got gowns, face masks, booties from amazon.

Berrcom No-Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer Baby Fever Check Thermometer 4 in 1 Multi Fever Alarm Memory Recall for Kids Infant Adult (15X Thermometers)

by Triplenet Pricing INC
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BKWNLLV/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_WnDeFb06HBK2J

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Was at Micro Center computer store to get part for my laptop tonight--- found disposable 50 count 3 ply face masks for 29.99 at exit.

https://www.microcenter.com/product/623727/-bfe-95-face-mask-3-ply---50-pack

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Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I just checked today and nothing I had ordered in the Spring for PPE had shipped yet ? A quick check of amazon showed everything I needed was in stock, so I talked to my business manager and he cancelled my original order and sent one in through amazon. Hopefully its all here by the first day!

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Specializes in School nursing.

Another thing I learned about Amazon - they have PPE for business customers and some of it doesn't populate in a regular Amazon search unless you are logged on to a business account. I have access to one through another group I work with, so I use it to browse, then send the links directly to my boss who has access to our school's business account and orders for me.

They have been great to me for gloves, N95 masks (!). Like I said above, WB Mason was great for gowns, disposable face masks, and hand sanitizer (that doesn't have menthol or smell gross - so much of the new stuff with aloe is so foul smelling to me).

MacGill School Nurse Supplies is where I've gotten no-touch thermometers and face shields. (Though there is a limit on amounts depending on item - just put in order for 100 face shields and no limit on those.)

Also just ordered Smile masks for staff if they want them/need them (we are planning to use with ELL students, for example) : https://rafinova.com/products/smile-mask

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