SURREAL......Health Care Supply Chain breakdowns already

Yesterday at our hospital (I am a "hospitalist" doctor), we were instructed on how to take off and re-use our N-95 mask five times. When we grab a mask, we are to also grab 5 small paper bags and label them with our name and 1-5. After we exit an Airborne Isolation room, we are to leave our gowns and gloves in the room but exit with the mask in place. We then use hand sanitizer and don new gloves. We then remove the mask and place it in the paper bag. Afterward, we remove and discard the gloves and then disinfect our hands again. We do this up to 5 times before the mask can be discarded. These are meant to be SINGLE USE ONLY. What the heck we are supposed to do when we run out of gloves? Or out of hand sanitizer for the automatic dispensers? Or disinfectant wipes? Or isolation gowns?

Don't even get me started on the shortage of face shields at our hospital. We have one per ward currently, and have to share and then disinfect.

The supply folks are trying to get re-stocked, but we are not yet seeing a lot of COVID-19 in our area (who would know...plenty of sick people....not enough tests!), so the supplies are being shipped mostly to "hot spots".

We have shut the hospital down to most visitors. Only one person can accompany a patient during admission. We just don't have enough PPE (personal protective equipment) for the employee, let alone visitors. Plus, we just don't need the public there right now.

This is the USA, not a third world country. And this is just the beginning of this Pandemic for the US. Surreal. Unreal. Unacceptable!