One of the linchpins of emergency planning is estimating how much personal protective equipment (PPE) staff members might need during an event, such as a pandemic.
HealthLeaders Media reported last month that hospitals in the midst of H1N1 flu responses found their supply chains tested, and certainly PPE—including gloves, respirators, and surgical masks—falls under that concern.
The uncertainty of a pandemic flu outbreak makes it tough to plan for PPE stockpiling. Each hospital plays a different role in its community, and therefore has unique requirements concerning PPE, says Tom Huser MS, CHSP, safety coordinator of emergency management and hazardous materials at Clarian Health in Indianapolis.
"There's no real number," Huser says. "It depends on the facility, the facility's size, location, and population served. If you are a small hospital in the suburbs or rural areas, you may be the only game in town, but the entire population served is probably going to be smaller than a square mile around an urban hospital."
Huser says Clarian is fortunate to receive funding from the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, which the hospital has used to stockpile materials.
Currently, Huser estimates Clarian has 710,000 pairs of gloves and 5,000 pairs of eye protection locked away in a separate location. To help determine that stockpile, Clarian hired the 3M Company based in St. Paul, MN, to use its surge model to predict how much the hospital might need.
A 3M representative looked at Clarian's population base, estimated 20%–30% becoming ill and requiring hospitalization, and then number-crunched its surge model to determine how many respirators, gowns, gloves, and eye goggles would be needed, Huser says.
Research predicts excess PPE use
A study published in the January 2009 issue of Journal of Hospital Infection observed a British hospital simulating the height of a pandemic in one of its acute medical wards. A study in the January 2009 Journal of Hospital Infection concluded that staff members used more gloves and surgical masks than expected during a pandemic, based on a simulation at a British hospital.
During the 24-hour simulation, 23 workers used 650 surgical masks, 1,200 pairs of gloves, and 750 disposable aprons. Many staff members also noted they lacked confidence in using PPE and following procedures. Basic tasks took longer and the facility generated significantly more waste.
Coordination with infection control
Although the emergency management department will likely take care of ordering and warehousing materials, infection control representatives should have input in the process. Take multiple factors into consideration, including:
- The size of your staff
- The surrounding population
- The number of other medical facilities around you
- What protective equipment frontline staff members use most
- What types of PPE are imperative in protecting employees and patients
"Our infectious disease physician is involved when we do the ordering," says Huser. "We aren't just running around in a vacuum, willy-nilly."
Evan Sweeney is an editorial assistant who writes Briefings on Infection Control. He may be reached at esweeney@hcpro.com.