National PPE expert

About the project

I was an essential subject matter expert on reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) for major US public health organizations. There was a severe shortage of PPE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I helped create guidelines on reusing hospital isolation gowns and develop a long-term plan for the US Strategic National Stockpile.

Challenge #1 – Shortage of Isolation Gowns

The COVID-19 pandemic created a tremendous need for isolation gowns in healthcare facilities worldwide without the global manufacturing capacity to meet demand.

Solution #1 – Reusable Isolation Gowns

I advised on the use of reusable isolation gowns in hospitals around the country. These gowns are laundered and mended to be reused up to 70 times. Gowns were manufactured and distributed to crucial healthcare laundries that could provide relief to large hospitals throughout the southeast region of the US. These gowns were also delivered to the Strategic National Stockpile as a critical product to their existing supply assortment.

Challenge #2 – Lack of Knowledge of Isolation Gown Reuse

Healthcare practitioners were cleaning isolation gowns with alcohol and other disinfectants to reuse them due to the global shortage. The CDC needed to determine if this was an effective cleaning method and required guidance.

Solution #2 – Educate the CDC on Reusable and Disposable Isolation Gowns

I advised public health professionals at the CDC on the use, cleaning, and reuse of both disposable and reusable isolation gowns. This was utilized to create supply optimization strategies that are now the national standard during supply shortages.

Outcomes

The CDC has published its “Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Isolation Gowns” based on my advice and other industry experts. It is now standard practice during supply crises and used by other national government organizations to guide their strategies. In addition, the Strategic National Stockpile still contains reusable isolation gowns manufactured under my leadership and donated by Medline Industries.