“Do we have enough masks to use them appropriately … No, not even close.” Area doctors pool medical supplies in face of national shortages

Communities around the nation have spent the past week rallying medical supplies like masks and respirators as they try to prepare for an illness that has, as of Wednesday, claimed more than 1,000 lives in the United States.

For Butler County, that means pooling supplies where possible and hoping the state follows through on the promise of other resources, even as national shortages dominate the headlines.

The first shipment was received Thursday from state officials. It contained 20 boxes of N95 masks and 30 gowns, said Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers. Myers expects to learn Friday when the next shipment will arrive.

“What is encouraging is that this means the system is working and we’re getting things,” said Myers.

Local providers have shared surpluses, like gloves, and some businesses have been able to provide masks, according to Dr. Chris Montgomery, a local physician who is part of the Butler County response team helping coordinate activities by officials and the medical community.

“Do we have enough gowns? We’ve got a few. Do we have enough eye protection? We could use more,” Montgomery said earlier this week. “Do we have enough masks to use them appropriately — appropriately defined as after an ill patient you discard that like we were taught in medical school and we were taught as best practices for infection control? No, not even close.

“(Some) are looking at using these masks at least all day unless you’re with a suspected COVID patient.”

Some providers may not be using the type of masks they prefer to use when working with patients, Myers said.

“Everyone is trying to figure out the best one to use until we get an ample supply. That’s not just here, it’s across the state and other states,” he said.

What Poplar Bluff has had came from local people as it competes with national and state authorities for resources, Montgomery said, who praised the efforts of Myers and State Rep. Jeff Shawan (R-Poplar Bluff) for their appeal at the beginning of the week to the state for supplies.

“(Supplies) have been from the private sector,” Montgomery said.

He added this includes the donation of N95 masks from McGee Equipment and Robertson Contractors, as well as other items from the Three Rivers College nursing program.

“Right now, we’re all in the same situation. What we can share regionally is about the best we can do at the moment,” Myers said early in the week, before the first state shipment arrived. “It’s a nationwide crisis as opposed to a geographically limited one.”

__N95 most requested supply__

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson this week redirected $18 million from other departments to cover the costs of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies that will be necessary for health care providers to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the Missouri News Network reported.

“The single most-requested item is N95 respirators,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said the State Emergency Management Agency said. These offer more protection than typical surgical masks. “In response, we’ve purchased more than 4.2 million N95 respirators at a cost of $10 million.”

According to Karsten, along with the order of N95 respirators, SEMA has placed orders for: 61,000 safety goggles; 95,000 three-layer surgical masks; over 7,400 surgical gowns; and 335,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and many other PPE items.

“What we have in Poplar Bluff is from Poplar Bluff,” Montgomery said earlier in the week, while the city was still waiting for a state shipment of medical items. “We’re not great and what we have we’re trying to take care of because St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and other areas are testing more and they’re having more cases. They’re obviously getting the personal protective gear.”

Doctors are taking different approaches to try to keep patients and staff safe, Montgomery said. Some hold sick clinics in separate areas or at different times than when well patients are seen. Many are using telehealth platforms to see well patients.

“You try to do what you can and try to make sure your colleagues have the same chance of being healthy and safe as you do,” he said. “It’s tough and it’s exhausting just to get ready for what might come, even before it comes really.”

AP graphic

__US leads world in confirmed cases__

Butler County has not seen a positive COVID-19 case as of press time. Positive cases have been diagnosed in Carter, Dunklin and Stoddard counties.

The United States reported as of 5 p.m. Thursday more than 82,000 cases, now leading the world with confirmed coronavirus cases, according to the Associated Press. China and Italy have 81,000 and 80,000 cases respectively.

In the first 1,000 fatalities in the U.S., some patterns have begun to emerge in the outbreak’s epidemiology and its painful human impact, the Washington Post reported Thursday. About 65% of people whose ages are known were older than 70 and nearly 40% were over 80, a risk they reported rises along with age.

About 5% whose ages are known were in their 40s or younger, but many more in that age group have been sick enough to be hospitalized, the Post reported.

__Local hospital beds__

Cities around the country are also taking count of available hospital beds as they prepare for an increased number of cases.

Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center reports it has 150 beds in use now among all of its patients, and has a current capacity of 28 intensive care units, with the ability to expand, Myers said.

The number of respirators available in the community was not available at press time.

Editor’s note: See the Saturday edition for a feature on local residents rallying to help make masks for medical workers and learn more about how you can help.