Battelle is providing a service to healthcare workers in Hawaii to sterilize personal protective equipment (PPE).
Any healthcare provider in the state qualifies for the free decontamination service. The masks are decontaminated through Battelle’s process, called the Critical Care Decontamination System, at an undisclosed facility. It allows each mask to be used up to 20 times.
“You’d get a three-digit code, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to sign up. Once you get your three-digit code, you would print a shipping label, FedEx, or if you have your own private carrier, you can bring it here yourself,” Milo Afong, Battelle Hawaii site lead, explained.
The system enables up to 10,000 N95 masks to be decontaminated within 24 hours inside each chamber. All orders are guaranteed to be shipped back within 72 hours.
“We’re having to pay 5 to 7 times per PPE item for what we would normally pay because of the worldwide shortage and demand for PPE,” Hilton Raethel, Healthcare Association of Hawaii president and CEO, said.
One of the first companies to sign up for the service is Queen’s Health System.
“As we look at what’s happening in the community today, 207 cases, it’s the highest number, we continue to set records and the biggest risk for us is making sure we have the right protection for all of our caregivers, so they know they’re safe,” Jason Chang, The Queen’s Health Systems chief operating officer, said.