South Lake Tahoe, CA - In light of a global shortage of personal protective equipment due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Barton Health is making every effort to ensure its supplies remain adequate for a potential influx of patients seeking care. Collaboration is underway with regional health partners, new and existing vendors, local businesses, and community members to procure equipment and supplies that may be needed as part of Barton’s top priority of keeping healthcare workers and patients safe.
“This is an unprecedented time, with unprecedented solutions needed to solve constantly evolving issues,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, President & CEO at Barton Health. “This crisis has brought people and industries together in a joint effort to slow the coronavirus’ spread and save lives.”
The Barton Foundation is organizing medical supply donations as a single access point to ensure the safety criteria of donated supplies are met. The Barton Foundation is gratefully accepting personal protective equipment and medical supply donations such as facemasks (N95, surgical, and procedure masks), disinfecting wipes such as Clorox or Sani-cloth wipes, hand sanitizer, face shields, goggles and eye shields, isolation or surgical gowns, Controlled Air Purifying Respirator (CAPR) and Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) machines or disposables. Businesses and residents can make a tax-deductible donation of these medical supplies by contacting Barton Foundation Executive Director, Chris Kiser at ckiser@bartonhealth.org, or 530.543.5612. Drop-off location for supplies is 2092 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 600, located directly across from Fire Station #3, and open between 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday.
The Barton Foundation is also leading an effort for community members to sew facemasks at home. Materials and instructions to make facemasks can be picked up or delivered to participants, and those interested in joining the cause can learn more at bartonhealth.org/foundation or by calling 530.543.5909. Barton reminds donors to follow social distancing guidelines when picking these materials up, or dropping-off completed facemasks.
The latest COVID-19 community information and public health and safety guidelines is available at bartonhealth.org/coronavirus. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness including fever, shortness of breath, coughing or unusual muscle aches, call Barton’s COVID-19 Health Line, 530.600.1999 for screening and possible testing.