In any crisis – local, state, federal or global – there are many people who say:“Something should be done.”
There are also some people who say: “I should do something – and I will.”
That was precisely the response in mid-March of a small group of people energized by the challenge of delivering critical equipment to frontline workers combating coronavirus in the United States.
What began as a few friends asking: “How can we help?” has in a few weeks grown into Project N95, a national COVID-19 critical equipment clearing house and non-profit organization of more than 100 volunteers. Between them, they bring deep experience in procurement, healthcare, government and technology. As Jaime Getto, Comms Lead for Project N95, says: “We’ve come together from all over the world to serve the frontline.”
Jaime Getto, Comms Lead for Project N95, says: “We’ve come together from all over the world to serve the frontline.”
What’s causing the PPE shortage crisis?
Project N95 created a mini documentary that traces PPE from factory to nurse and explains how new complications in global supply chains have exacerbated the problem.
What does Project N95 do?
The team works to help those on the frontline acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential material as quickly and affordably as possible to support their work against the spread of COVID-19. Speed is critical in this battle, and Project N95 drives transparency in the market through procurement best practices.
Frontline and other healthcare organizations report their critical equipment needs. Suppliers submit information about the products they have available. Project N95 acts as a hub to expedite the process of bringing both sides together. It conducts due diligence on all suppliers and products to ensure procurement decisions can be made as quickly as possible.
At the time of writing (May 11), Project N95 has 3,806 organizations requesting equipment, with 2,594 suppliers having submitted 6,286 products for vetting. The total number of products delivered is rising by the hour – and it will only keep going up, as it is estimated that more than 285 million units of critical equipment will be required across the United States in the next 30 days, with more than 50% of that demand generated by hospitals.
What products does Project N95 process?
Frontline health organizations can be connected to suppliers in the US and beyond of a total of 95 products that are needed to combat COVID-19. The products include:
· Respirators
· Masks
· Isolation gowns
· Face shields
· Gloves
· Goggles
· Ventilators
Project N95 accelerates the delivery process by reviewing the following:
· Factory and product level certifications
· Supplier registration, contacts and other supporting documentation
· Product documentation, including videos
· Product pricing, MOQ, availability, capacity and lead times
· Customer reference checks
If your request meets the requirements of at least one supplier, Project N95 puts you in touch. Those who cannot meet a minimum order but have a purchasing capacity can be connected to organizations that aggregate and distribute larger orders.
What challenges has the project had to overcome?
It soon became clear that there were several factors contributing to the crisis in accessing PPE in the United States.
The first was that the hospital supply chain had broken down. Suppliers and manufacturers were out of stock and being flooded with requests. Hospitals had to join a frantic pack of other healthcare providers scrambling to find new sources of PPE. “It’s like the Wild West out there,” said one person searching for supplies said.
“It’s like the Wild West out there,”
A second issue was that the N95 respirators that give the project its name are almost entirely made in China, which had its own COVID-19 outbreak to handle.
Things were further complicated by unscrupulous operators running scams to cash in on the desperation of healthcare organizations to source equipment. That is why the validation of suppliers and manufacturers is a key element of the work being done by Project N95.
In this fast-moving, rapidly changing market place, Project N95 works to gather data, investigate suppliers, and liaise with the FDA and other government agencies. The result is a significant contribution to the multi-faceted fight against the spread of COVID-19.
As Monument Avenue Pediatrics of Richmond, Va., wrote: “We would never have gotten N95s without your help! All our suppliers are out of stock and on back-order for several months. As a small practice, not connected to a big institution, we can’t participate in those 100K orders.”
How can people help Project N95?
There are several ways in which volunteers and supporters can throw their weight behind the excellent work being done by Project N95.
Financial donations are welcome from companies and individuals, and the PN95 team wants to hear from volunteers, suppliers and manufacturers who are interested in supporting its efforts.
Potential partner organizations can include:
· Government at all levels
· Healthcare associations
· Public health stakeholders
· Businesses
· Philanthropic bodies
· COVID-19 response ecosystem partners
· Technology companies
You can find out more at the Project N95 website and learn more about its work at its FAQ page.
If you are one of those people who wants to take action and assist the response to COVID-19, this is your chance.
© Martin Booth, LeBoo Media Ltd
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