WARRENVILLE, Ailing., Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Healthcare staff on the COVID-19 items at Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Hospital, a part of the Edward-Elmhurst Well being system in suburban Chicago, bought a high-fashion increase this 12 months when a famend designer created isolation robes for them throughout a scarcity of non-public protecting tools.
Mac Duggal, identified for creating big day robes, shifted focus to medical isolation robes after he was contacted by Edward-Elmhurst Well being CEO Mary Lou Mastro.
“We had been operating out of isolation robes,” Mastro says. “I used to be beginning to panic. I chilly referred to as (Duggal) and mentioned, ‘You’ve got by no means met me, however our sons know one another. I at all times thought I would name you some day to make my mom of the groom costume, however we’re operating out of isolation robes so is there any approach you’ll be able to create some?'”
Duggal mentioned he would do no matter he may to assist healthcare staff.
The hospital system usually purchases and makes use of about 50,000 isolation robes monthly, says Matthew Hess, system director of provide chain for Edward-Elmhurst Well being. When COVID-19 hit, Edward-Elmhurst Well being used its month-to-month amount of robes in a single week.
As a result of isolation robes had been positioned on allocation by their producer, the well being system was unable to buy extra portions. This led workers to search for alternate sources.
Amidst a scarcity of fabric and excessive demand, Duggal looked for the very best non-woven materials to make use of for the robes, which should be impenetrable by liquid and robust sufficient to withstand tears.
“It took a short while to search out good material, however my entire group went to work,” Duggal says. “We knew we had no selection, as a result of this was wanted quick.”
As soon as the isolation robes had been manufactured, Duggal discovered house on a ship loaded with night robes destined for the USA.
“We swapped out night robes and put the robes for Edward-Elmhurst Well being on it,” Duggal says.
Edward-Elmhurst Well being bought 400,000 Mac Duggal robes that arrived in 5 semi-trucks in August 2020.
“On the time, we had a provide disaster scenario with isolation robes,” says Mary Anderson, supervisor of an infection management at Edward Hospital. “There simply weren’t sufficient out there anyplace on the planet to satisfy the wants of healthcare amenities. It was a really determined hour.”
Each time a healthcare employee enters the room of a affected person with a COVID-19 an infection, they placed on a brand new robe and eliminate it after they depart the room.
The Mac Duggal robes are high-quality and embrace options recommended by Anderson and her colleagues — elastic and thumb loops on the wrists, Velcro on the neck, a belt that enables somebody to place the robe on and fasten it with out assist from another person. The material is impermeable however breathable so that they’re comfy.
“They have been a pleasure to work with,” Hess says. “Each Mac and his son, Yuvraj, simply two people who genuinely care.”
