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Midwest Medical Center officials keeping close tabs on supplies

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GALENA–Midwest Medical Center, unlike some hospitals in the nation, have a supply stock that is sustainable for the current needs of the hospital.

“We are currently fine on supplies,” said Tracy Bauer, president and CEO of Midwest Medical Center. “We have had several organizations donating items. We also have some that have volunteered supplies and if we need them, we will reach out.”

Several local and distant companies have reached out to lend support to the hospital.

Bauer said that the biggest concern that the hospital has currently is the surgical mask stock. Bauer believes that at some point all of the nursing home staff will be required to wear the masks which will increase the burn rate on the supply.

The nursing home will begin requiring all staff to wear masks if a patient has a respiratory illness and when they begin testing for COVID-19.

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“We are taking inventory daily and watching it very closely,” said Bauer.

Bauer said that the hospital has also received additional supplies from the state’s stock pile.

“We work within region 1A and with our emergency coordinator for the region to make those requests,” said Bauer. “We are also required to report our inventory of critical supplies along with positives in our county and people under investigation, those waiting results, on a daily basis.”

Bauer said that the new reporting measures took place this week.

Those interested in donating supplies should contact Deb Hoppman, director of nursing, at 815-776-7237 or dhoppman@midwestmedicalcenter.org.