and sewed.
Satellite crews have popped up throughout the hospital and
surgical nurses have been joined in the workshop by scrub
techs, physical therapists and acupuncturists, and staff mem-
bers from integrated therapies, in-house daycare and physical
therapy. An athletic trainer from a local high school who's
employed by the hospital even pitched in to help. A plastic sur-
geon joined in on the first day of production. She started off
learning how to cut and pin blue wrap and ended the day sitting
behind a sewing machine.
Ms. Heuer says the response and support they've received has
been overwhelming. The nurses originally considered using cot-
ton fabric material but wanted to make an evidence-based deci-
sion — they're nurses, after all — on what material would be
most effective. They determined cotton does not filter small air-
borne particles, so they came up with the idea of using sterile
blue wrap instead.
Staff place the mask over N95 masks to extend the life of the
critical piece of PPE. "It's functional and very similar to the stan-
dard surgical masks we wear," says Ms. Dirksen. "A major blue
wrap manufacturer unofficially backed the mask's bacterial infil-
tration efficiency and applauded our efforts."
Ms. Heuer and Ms. Dirksen have overseen the production of a
staggering 20,655 masks before pausing in production to assess
the burn rate. "Our efforts will have been successful if we end up
with a surplus," says Ms. Heuer.
If their inspiration, initiative, and ingenuity are any indication,
the project's success has never been in doubt.
— Daniel Cook
M A Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 3 3
