Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Spring/Summer 2020

GibsonHospital.org 6 Necessity is the mother of invention From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not clear if or when PPE (personal protective equipment) would be available for use. One item that was particularly difficult to procure was the standard isolation gown. Used for a number of standard procedures in the healthcare industry, the isolation gown—a simple plastic barrier intended to protect both the patient and staff member from germs and infection—became scarce due to the demands of COVID-19. As healthcare organizations, including Gibson Area Hospital, experienced insufficient stock volumes, it became clear that it was time to get creative. With instructions and a “how-to” video from another facility, GAHHS staff ventured into the role of producing gowns. What started as a process of cutting 10 gowns at a time turned into an efficient production of cutting 40 gowns at time, thanks to the ingenuity of the staff at the Paxton Community & Wellness Center. We are still currently producing our gowns to ensure that we have an ample supply for future needs. If necessity is the mother of invention, GAHHS delivered! IN THIS TOGETHER! In response to the coronavirus, Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services (GAHHS) created an Incident Command Team of leadership to manage the pandemic and keep the public and patients updated about visitor restrictions, status of healthcare services, safety precautions, screening guidelines, and local testing options. task force Our COVID-19