Des Moines Sun

Iowa health care workers have expressed concern about the shortage of protective materials amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Several health care workers have had to reuse marks and gowns among patients since their workplace lacks the proper amount of supplies, Des Moines Register reported. The Iowa Department of Public Health has even asked workers to continue working if they have been exposed to the coronavirus as long as they show no symptoms. 

"You wouldn't send a firefighter into a fire without equipment and that's what they're doing to us," an employee at the VA Central Health Care System said. The health care worker agreed to be quoted by the Des Moines Register as long as they remained unnamed out of fear of employer retribution. "I signed up to take care of people. But I also expect my employer to be providing me the proper equipment."

VA Central Health Care System spokesman Jerry Self, Jr., said the hospital doesn't reuse disposable materials. 

"The facility is not reusing disposal gowns or masks," he said in a statement. "The facility is using washable gowns, and washing them after every use. Each gown has 75 washes, which is being tracked. This is in line with CDC guidance."

Health care workers at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has similar things to say and also wished to remain unnamed. 

“We want to be safe, but we don’t want to run out,” a university health care employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told Des Moines Register.

The shortage of these necessary supplies and materials can put health care workers at risk of COVID-19, the Des Moines Register reported. 

Di Findley, executive director of Iowa CareGivers, said, "Those on the front lines are at greater risk of contracting and spreading the virus, particularly if they don't have proper (personal protective equipment)." 

As a way to help preserve protective gear, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued an executive order to postpone any nonessential and elective surgeries in the state. 

Not only are hospitals short on supplies, but they are short on health care workers as well. 

Since COVID-19 first appeared in Iowa, many health care workers have been staying home to quarantine or to care for children, Des Moines Register reported. This leaves several health care employees throughout the state having to work longer hours since the hospitals are understaffed. 

Reynolds said changes are going to be made to try to fully staff hospitals. 

“We are in unprecedented times right now and we’re going to continue to be flexible, adjust and figure out a way we can meet the needs of Iowans,” Reynolds said at a news conference. “ We’ve made some changes to allow retired health care professionals to come back online, for students to come into the fold."

Churches and schools will also start offering daycare services for health care workers that have no one to watch their children. Reynolds said this will allow some of the employees to return to work, Des Moines Register reported. 

“So, I mean, every day we’re looking at different solutions that we can provide Iowans to make sure that we have the services available to them," Reynolds said at the news conference.