The College’s contributions of protective gloves and N95 respirator masks will help local Philadelphia healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients.
In the wake of COVID-19, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is doing its part to respond to the needs of local healthcare systems by donating its supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to those on the front lines of the pandemic. Across the country, there has been a shortage of PPE, putting healthcare workers at increased risk of contracting the disease. These contributions will help to ensure that local healthcare workers have the supplies they need to treat patients safely.
“These supplies come from our clinical learning and assessment center (CLAC) and division of research here on campus,” said Patrick Wolf, MBA, chief occupational and environmental safety officer at PCOM. “While students would usually don this personal protective equipment in preparation for their hands-on learning, we felt it was vitally important to get these resources to the people who would need them most, the health systems in our community that will be facing this pandemic head on,” continued Mr. Wolf.
To date, PCOM has donated surgical gowns, protective latex and nitrile gloves, sterile tubes, sterile pipettes and N95 respirator masks. N95 respirator masks, in particular, are important for healthcare professionals as they conform to the face of the person wearing them. When worn properly, these masks ensure the person wearing them is not breathing contaminated air. Due to increased demand, there has been a national shortage of N95 respirators.
PCOM has also donated prepared viral transport medium (VTM) that's required for testing for COVID-19 as well as a pump that's required to complete the process.
Donations have been made to Main Line Health System, Suburban Medical Center, Einstein Hospital, Roxborough Memorial Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center.
Learn more about PCOM's response to COVID-19.
Note - This story was updated on April 20 and May 5, 2020, to expand on the items donated and the list of hospitals.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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