Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly impacted health-care systems worldwide, leading to an unprecedented rise in demand for health-care resources. In anticipation of an acute strain on established medical facilities in Dallas, Texas, federal officials worked in conjunction with local medical personnel to convert a convention center into a Federal Medical Station capable of caring for patients affected by COVID-19. A 200,000 square foot event space was designated as a direct patient care area, with surrounding spaces repurposed to house ancillary services. Given the highly transmissible nature of the novel coronavirus, the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) was of particular importance for personnel staffing the facility. Furthermore, nationwide shortages in the availability of PPE necessitated the reuse of certain protective materials. This article seeks to delineate the procedures implemented regarding PPE in the setting of a COVID-19 disaster response shelter, including workspace flow, donning and doffing procedures, PPE conservation, and exposure event protocols.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly impacted health-care systems worldwide, leading to an unprecedented rise in demand for health-care resources
The virus had spread across the world, with outbreaks appearing in South Korea, Japan, and some locations in the United States.[1]
In an effort to mitigate the predicted surge in COVID-19 cases within the Dallas area, joint federal, state, and local agencies converted a 200,000 square foot convention center space into a pandemic medical shelter, retrofitted for pathogen containment and observation of 250 patients affected by COVID-19
Summary
Face shield: 5. Retrieve and don face shield by pulling strap far overhead, taking care not to touch the face 6. Sit down in chair and place shoe covers over shoes 8. PPE EXPOSURES Policies were delineated for facility personnel whose PPE was contaminated, damaged, or inadvertently removed while in the patient care area. In accordance with DHA guidelines, PPE contaminated with blood, respiratory secretions, or other bodily fluids was disposed of and replaced.[7] Due to the continued exposure risk while navigating the patient care area, staff members were instructed to continue wearing the damaged or contaminated PPE while exiting toward the doffing station. In scenarios involving removal of masks in the patient care area, the affected person should immediately mobilize toward the doffing zone exit, maintaining a minimum distance of 6 ft from all staff and patients. The affected person was considered at high risk for exposure and would undergo self-quarantine for 14 d
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