Hoosier healthcare workers to receive Purdue PPE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – Purdue University faculty and staff have been manufacturing, assembling and delivering medical supplies to hospitals, emergency management organizations, nursing homes and hospice care organizations. The university says it is also working to improve upon a widely used piece of personal protective equipment to extend its shelf life.
“We have produced and donated approximately 350 face shields and 600 glasses so far,” said Nathan Hartman, Purdue professor of advanced manufacturing and co-executive director of the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center. “In the next 10 days, we will manufacture and deliver approximately more 6,000 face shields, and we hope to soon be able to deliver 1,000 sets of gowns, caps and foot covers per week.”
The maker team has been working with Franciscan Health, Parkview Health, Indiana University Health and Lutheran Health Network, among others, to distribute supplies throughout Indiana.
“We have received requests from nursing home facilities, hospice care facilities and dental offices,” said Hartman. “This part of our community is often overlooked in favor of hospitals and clinics, but we are looking at ways to support them as well, if possible.”
Purdue’s efforts have been facilitated through Tippecanoe County health officials and the Purdue University Fire Department under Indiana’s mutual aid program. Purdue says its partnerships will augment its PPE supplies.
In addition to producing supplies, the team is working to develop a new design for n95 facemasks that can be sanitized and reused.