By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Inadequate supplies of protective masks, ventilators, intensive care beds and other medical resources are forcing mass closures and restrictions on everyday activities. Public officials are rushing to slow the virus so America's medical system is not overwhelmed.
Hospitals and healthcare providers do not have enough enough of the critical supplies needed to protect doctors and nurses from the coronavirus.
Lindsey Bogner, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Ellinwood District Hospital, says that shortage is being felt in Barton County as well.
"There are millions of supplies and caches around the United States," said Bogner. "Unfortunately, since we have not seen a lot of those cases, we are pretty low on the totem poll to get those supplies."
Bogner says while the Ellinwood Hospital is okay for the time being, it would not take long for those supplies to be drawn down.
"We need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our staff, and I know that is across the board for hospitals," Bogner said. "We still have those orders out to see if they can be fulfilled."
The public's hoarding tendencies made an impact on the supply shortage at hospitals.
"Some of those supplies were designed to bought in the public," said Bogner. "Everybody came in and bought those supplies in the stores, so now the stores can not supply the hospitals."