March 24, 2020:

PPE SHORTAGES: HEALTHCARE WORKERS ESCALATE DEMANDS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

The shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a national disgrace. The federal government is refusing to ensure that healthcare workers nationwide have the surgical masks, N95 masks, and other equipment we need to meet this crisis. Click here to take action right now to demand an immediate federal response to our PPE shortages.

Join our COVID-19 Facebook Live session on Wed., March 25 at 7 p.m. where we’ll address the current PPE shortages and what it will take for us to get what we need.

MORE HEALTHCARE HEROES NEEDED IN LOS ANGELES 

We’re working with the State of California to reopen St. Vincent Medical Center in L.A. to meet the upcoming surge — and we’re working closely with the Dept. of Health and Human Services to recruit the healthcare workers needed to staff the facility.

Do you know other healthcare workers who are ready to step up at St. Vincent and help lead us through this epidemic? Click here to learn more. 

STATE UPPING HOSPITAL BEDS FOR THE SURGE 

California will need an additional 50,000 hospital beds during the impending COVID-19 surge — an increase of 30,000 over the previous estimate. In his March 23 news conference, Gov. Newsom laid out the state’s plan to secure these beds:

• 30,000 surge beds at existing hospitals (e.g., reopening closed capacity, setting up new beds in non-care areas).
• 20,000 surge beds from other channels, including reopening shuttered facilities like St. Vincent in L.A. and Community Hospital Long Beach (3,000 beds), 8 federal field medical stations (2,000 beds), USNS Mercy Naval Hospital Ship (1,000 beds), convention facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and converted hotels and UC/CSU dorm rooms.

WE’RE DRIVING WORKPLACE SAFETY

Healthcare workers are the first line of defense against infections at our hospitals. Dietary staff at Stanford Health Care proved this by raising a red flag to management about the threat of cross-contamination from trays in COVID-19 patient rooms — compelling the hospital to convert to disposable trays to minimize infections.

Let’s all be this vigilant about safety and let’s call out hazards when we see them. Click here for the latest COVID-19 Response Checklist to make sure your facility is following the proper protocols.