Published in Healthcare Purchasing News
December 21, 2022
Jason Burnham, Senior Director of Facial Protection at Owens & Minor, shared his insights in a Healthcare Purchasing News article unpacking learning lessons on mask and respirator use during the COVID-19 pandemic to inform future improvements for other potential outbreaks.
In the article, Burnham discussed the need to design and test children’s masks as parents and healthcare workers were uncertain on how to protect their children’s health during the pandemic. He also discussed how healthcare providers should start adhering to guidance around proper mask usage from health agencies and authorities and stray away from habits adopted during the pandemic. “Since the inception of the pandemic, staff are often re-wearing disposable face masks due to scarcity rather than disposing and donning a new mask between patients. This is a significant departure from the CDC’s Standard Precautions,” Burnham said.
In addition, he recommended that hospitals ensure they have the right facial protection for the task at hand to rebalance proper demand planning – noting that healthcare workers often wore the facial protection that was readily available during the pandemic, even if it did not match the protection needed in certain settings.
Burnham has over 25 years of experience in healthcare solutions including expertise in global healthcare product manufacturing, supply chain management, and design of products and technologies for various acute and non-acute healthcare points of care. Throughout his career, Burnham has steered supply of critical PPE, most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic where he worked closely with U.S. Government agencies as an industry liaison and led partnerships to expand the industrial base of critical healthcare supplies.
Additional Articles
The Right Face Mask for the Task
During the shifting headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone became acutely aware of the need for respiratory protection and of…
Tripledemic – Are You Prepared for What’s Ahead?
The Rise of the Tripledemic In 2020 and 2021 the ‘twindemic,’ a combination of COVID-19 and flu, did not reach the levels infectious disease experts expected due to measures like social distancing and masking. In 2022, the twindemic has arrived with a third pathogen, concerning physicians, scientists, health professionals and
Being Ready for What Comes Through Your Facility’s Doors
Healthcare facilities continue to grapple with the unpredictable demand for masks and face shields, even two years after the world first started talking about COVID-19. Now, more forward-thinking healthcare organizations are becoming even savvier about personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to remain vigilant against emerging pathogens and combat growing
FDA Revokes Emergency Use Authorization for KN95 Masks
Official FDA Release June 30, 2021 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking the Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for non-NIOSH-approved disposable respirators (revocation effective July 6, 2021) and the EUAs for decontamination and bioburden reduction systems (revocation effective June 30, 2021). As of the effective date of the
What’s The Difference: Surgical Masks vs N95 Respirators
Surgical Mask N95 Respirator Approval and Regulations Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and regulated under 21 CFR 878.4040. Regulated by the FDA, CDC NIOSH, OSHA. Evaluated, tested, and approved by NIOSH as per the requirements in 42 CFR Part 84. Intended Purpose Fluid resistant. Reduces wearer’s
The Holiday Stresses of Working in a Hospital
Working in a hospital during the holidays adds another layer of stress. These tips for coping can help alleviate the…
Face the Facts: What You Need To Know About Medical Face Masks In Healthcare Settings
Q&A with Kathleen StoesselRN, BSN, MS, Senior Manager, Clinical Education & Accreditation, Halyard HealthWhy do I need a fluid-resistant mask? If your mask is not fluid resistant, you are not adequately protected when performing procedures such as endotracheal suctioning, bronchoscopy, and invasive surgery that generate splashes or sprays of blood,
Is Your Surgical Gown Protecting You? What You Don’t Know May Hurt You
Introduction During invasive procedures, patients as well as the healthcare team are at risk for exposure to infectious agents through pathogen penetration of surgical gowns. Therefore, healthcare personnel should be aware of the relevant standards, guidelines, and professional recommendations that address surgical gowns. Through this knowledge, they are better equipped
Choosing the Right Face Mask: 3 Things to Know
3 things to consider when selecting facial protection in the healthcare setting 1. There are different types of medical face masks. Generally speaking, face masks fall into three key sub-groups: procedure masks, surgical tie masks, and N95 respirators. Masks that are authorized by the FDA are referred to as medical
Is it OK to recycle Halyard N95 Masks?
Halyard Responds HALYARD* N95 respirators are labelled as single use. The respirators are designed to be disposable and should be removed and discarded after exiting the patient’s room or care area and closing the door. Q: Do O&M N95s contain cellulose? A: No, O&M HALYARD* N95 surgical respirators do not
Don’t Slip Up: Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls to Keep Patients and Hospital Staff Safer
Slips, trips and falls (STFs) can happen anywhere, and hospitals are no exception. Whether in a patient room or an operating room, STFs are a potentially costly and largely preventable risk to both patients and hospital staff alike. Falls are of particular concern with patients over the age of 65,
Keeping an Eye Out: Protecting the Eyes of Healthcare Staff
The eyes are a gateway for infection to enter the body. So it is critical to protect your eyes, especially in environments where infection risks are present. In hospitals the risk for infection can be higher due to the chance of splatter from blood or other bodily fluids. According to
Is Your Surgical Mask Protecting You? What You Don’t Know May Hurt You
Introduction Are you confident that the surgical mask available for your use provides appropriate barrier protection for the task you or your colleagues are about to perform? How many types of surgical masks do you have in your facility? Do you know how to differentiate their barrier protection? Does it
Protecting Yourself From MERS
5 Things Healthcare Professionals Need to Do Now In 2014 healthcare professionals found themselves on the front lines of a fast-moving Ebola outbreak in West Africa—the largest in history—that eventually claimed some 11,000 lives including more than 500 health workers.1 This summer, as Ebola cases continue to appear in West