Healthcare Facilities & Covid

There have been a lot of twists and turns during this pandemic, but the right tools can help us adjust to this “New Normal” safely and confidently. The CDC continues to recommend indoor masking to lessen the chance of outbreaks.

PhenoPPE’s 5-layer PE-05 Earloop and 3-layer PM-03 masks are great US-made alternatives to cloth masks that don't filter aerosol particles and imports of questionable quality.

The Ongoing Fight

Hospitals continue to see many new Covid patients, even as they are trying to reduce the backlog of normal operations. 

Staff and patients regularly meet people with a variety of different illnesses and unknown vaccination status. Pandemic mitigation measures vary widely by state and locality, leading to increased travel, increased circulation and increased infections. 

Seasonal influenza, an annual source of higher hospitalizations, may return in force this year.

Frontline staff, such as nurses and doctors are the most exposed to these developments.

Any tools that can help keep these stresses and strains from becoming a crisis should be adopted. Masks are effective against Covid and Influenza, as long as they are adopted universally, worn properly and are of sound quality.

Guarding Against the Unexpected

In addition to the challenges of the pandemic, hospital systems also need to deal with normal operations, such as emergency cases and patients receiving routine care.

The rise of the super-spreading Delta variant was an unwelcome development. Combined with uneven vaccination rates, it caused a sudden resurgence of hospitalizations, putting severe pressure on healthcare facilities and exposing staff to heightened health risks. 

New variants may continue to emerge and spread, making it necessary for organizations to be prepared for additional surprises on the horizon.

Upgrading masks for staff and patients, even those not in Covid-specific care, is a proactive way for hospital systems to protect both those in their care and those who are providing it.

A Smart Use of Resources

Owing to the continuing shortage of nurses and other qualified personnel, upgraded masks are also a wise investment against possible loss of staff time and another way to convince potential hires that it is a safe place to work.

It is also an investment in a hospital’s reputation as a place that can be trusted with the health and care of loved ones.