Know a Provider In Need of PPE?

Dr. James Goydos and his family have created personal protective equipment (PPE) in an effort to combat the shortage of critical inventory during the pandemic:

This article was previously published on Dr. James Goydos' website.

The world hasn’t faced a pandemic like COVID-19 since the Spanish Flu of 1918. Although much in medicine has changed over the century that has passed, some understandings have remained the same. Doctors in the early 1900s may have lacked many of the sophisticated tools we have today to understand complex viruses, but in spite of this, still understood that illness was spread from person to person. As such, some of the same measures that humankind is taking to tackle the virus today are reminiscent of those taken during the last major pandemic.

The use of personal protective equipment or PPE, for example, was widely used to prevent the spread of the Spanish Flu. The use of PPE predates this pandemic and has its roots farther back in history with Pliny the Elder’s usage of animal bladder skins for respiratory protection. Polymath Leonardo Da Vinci, too, saw the benefits of covering the mouth to protect inhalation of dangerous substances. The history of wearing PPE is long, and the wisdom of its use remains true today. Medical professionals around the globe continue to use PPE. However, COVID-19 has created a burden of short supply of critical PPE as cases continue to climb.

PPE is used in a variety of contexts, and is essential for medical, emergency, and recovery workers. Its applications extend beyond face coverings to include protective clothing, hearing protection, and several other types of gear. Today, PPE in the form of a face mask is a strong defense against the spread of the coronavirus, especially when the recommended social distance of keeping at least 6 feet from others cannot be maintained. Unfortunately, when COVID-19 emerged as a pandemic, the healthcare industry saw a widespread shortage of medical-grade PPE.

A surge in cases worldwide, coupled with issues such the misuse of PPE and panic buying, meant healthcare workers across the globe lacked the equipment essential to protect themselves and others from occupational hazard, including the novel coronavirus. Sadly, this shortage remains as providers worldwide struggle to meet the increase in global demand for PPE. In some cases, this has led providers to either operate without any PPE, to reuse existing materials against recommended usage guidelines, or to resort to dangerous alternatives such as wearing plastic garbage bags and bandanas in place of gowns and facemasks.

As the world struggles to keep up with the surge in cases and demand for PPE, people around the world have begun to get creative by creating their own facemasks. While most of these are not recommended for use in a medical setting, due to the regulations surrounding medical devices, among other things, homemade masks have largely served their purpose for use by the general public. Homemade masks mean fewer people misusing PPE by hoarding medical supplies, removing part of the burden on the supply chain in hospitals. However, the shortage remains as the world continues to cope with COVID-19 and the requirements it places on the medical supply chain.

Like any medical professional would do in my position, I have sought to help in any small way I can by creating HEPA filter masks in hopes of donating them to healthcare providers on the front lines. With my years of experience as a surgeon, I have an intimate familiarity with the importance of high-quality PPE, and the difference it can make in protecting my patients and me.

The thought of operating on a patient without it is a harrowing one, as it endangers the life and safety of both parties, and potentially anyone who comes into contact with an unprotected person, following exposure. In the context of the coronavirus, given the means by which we know it spreads, any safe intervention to prevent droplet transmission is recommended. My family and I are both current and future health care providers and understand firsthand the importance of doing what we can to help lessen the burden of the Personal Protective Equipment shortage brought on my COVID-19.

Currently, we have made dozens of masks made from HEPA Filter, a material used for air filtration, in hopes of donating them to health care providers on the front lines. If you or someone you know is a health care provider in need of masks, please contact us via Instagram @FernwoodPPE or email Dr. James Goydos. We are a small operation, but we’re happy to help in any way we can.

About James Goydos, M.D.

Dr. James Goydos is an expert in melanoma research and specialist in surgical oncology with an M.D. from Rutgers University. With over 20 years of experience as a Professor, Surgeon, and Clinical Trial Lead, he is a leading expert in his field.

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