Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 3, 2020

Photos by Jerome Pollos, Jerome Pollos Photography calls to ensure our staff have what they need to do their jobs.” In July, 3 East transitioned to being a closed unit—accessible only to staff providing direct patient care. In doing so, they were able to begin using continuous personal protective equipment (PPE) strategies to help conserve equipment and allow staff to be more protected and responsive when visiting patient rooms. Now, staff put on their PPE in a designated location when they begin their shift and take it off in a separate area when they take a break or leave for the day. Once the decision was made to keep all COVID-19 patients together on one unit, six rooms on the unit were upgraded to provide critical-level care. Experienced critical care staff members began working on the unit alongside other 3 East staff members. This model made it easier for them to work Stay informed Learn about COVID-19, Kootenai Health’s visitor restriction policy and much more at KH.org/covid-19 . —Continued on page 8 As part of her personal protective equipment, Kaydah Parker is wearing eye protection, an N-95 respirator, a gown and gloves. She changes her gloves with each patient encounter but wears her gown, mask and eye protection continuously while on the unit. After patients discharge home, the vacated rooms are intensely cleaned and disinfected before another patient can be admitted. Tim Dietz mops the floor as part of this “terminal cleaning” process that takes close to an hour to complete. protective equipment (PPE) continuously while on the unit. Wearing PPE for an extended time may cause skin breakdown. 3 East is an isolation unit, which means staff wear personal KH . ORG 7