PPE in Ample Supply
Patterson announces availability of critical items such as facemasks, N95 respirators, gowns, and lab jackets
The past year has been like no other for the dental industry. In addition to the office closures that marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dental profession grappled with a shortage of PPE and other critical supplies at a time when practices were enhancing their infection control protocols to further protect team members and patients. Fortunately, there is no longer a shortage of key PPE items such as masks and gowns. Patterson Dental has ample supply of critical items such as earloop facemasks, N95 respirators, disposable and washable isolation gowns, disposable lab jackets, disposable bouffant caps, disposable shoe covers, disposable and reusable face shields, surface disinfectants, and HVE isolation systems and accessories. Brands include Patterson, Braval, Medicom, Orich, Honeywell, AOK, Fashion Seal, Dentsply Sirona’s Purevac, DryShield, and CleanCide. The industry experienced shortages of those and other supplies throughout 2020. From the start of the pandemic, Patterson Dental took extensive measures to procure needed supplies for dental practices. “Patterson rapidly onboarded several new suppliers and products while strategically working with current suppliers to increase availability of PPE and other categories impacted by COVID-19,” said Aaron Pfarrer, Director of Marketing, Merchandise.
A primary challenge was finding vendors that could meet Patterson’s expectations for quality and delivery timelines. Pfarrer noted that freight availability in Asia has been a constant challenge throughout the pandemic, and shipments have often been behind schedule due to capacity constraints.
PPE ‘Optimization’ No Longer Needed
With the shortages of key items such as masks now abated, dental practices should not follow emergency use guidelines for situations when PPE is in short supply. Such guidelines can lead to unsafe practices if dental teams reuse facemasks, N95s, or apparel that is intended to be disposed after each patient visit. The improper use of PPE can be a risk to the public and a liability to the business owner. Michelle Lee, Executive Director of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP), agreed that the supply news means that "PPE optimization," including the reuse of single-use surgical masks, respirators, and disposable gowns, is no longer necessary. “As dental professionals continue to navigate the pandemic, it is a relief to know that practitioners and staff are no longer likely to be faced with limiting patient care because of a shortage of masks and gowns,” she said in a press release.
Meeting the Demand
Going forward, dental teams can expect Patterson to continue all efforts to make certain that these items remain well-stocked. “Patterson has made purchase commitments in all impacted categories to ensure a consistent, high-quality, and competitively priced supply of product to meet the new demand,” Pfarrer said.