The CDC has published a quick reference that summarizes CDC’s strategies to optimize personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies in healthcare settings and provides links to CDC’s full guidance documents on optimizing supplies. These strategies offer a continuum of options using the framework of surge capacity when PPE supplies are stressed, running low or absent.
When using these strategies, healthcare facilities should:
- Consider these options and implement them sequentially
- Understand their current PPE inventory, supply chain, and utilization rate
- Train healthcare personnel on PPE use and have them demonstrate competency with donning and doffing any PPE ensemble that is used to perform job responsibilities
- As PPE availability returns to normal, promptly resume standard practices