Providence St. Joseph Health Staff, Volunteers Making PPE to Address Shortages

Staff and volunteers at Providence Health, based in Renton, Washington, are proactively tackling the potential shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Using materials like marine-grade vinyl, strips of foam, elastic bands and double-sided tape, staff at all levels of the health system are making face shields and surgical masks that will protect health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Washington state has been hit hard by the pandemic, and health system leaders and state health department officials—along with national leaders—are calling out the need to address shortages of medical equipment for treating patients and keeping health care workers safe. As the U.S. government and individual states work with suppliers to produce and deliver more masks, gloves, ventilators and other medical equipment, the homemade PPE that Providence St. Joseph Health volunteers is constructing is helping address anticipated shortages. KOMO-TV, the local ABC affiliate in Seattle, produced a news story about this initiative at Providence St. Joseph Health.