The Department of Veterans Affairs has turned to 3D printing technology to help combat a nationwide shortage of medical equipment and supplies including masks and ventilators.
Though VA officials have publicly denied any shortages of supplies at the department's many hospitals and clinics across the country, leaders have said there is a "serious" shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and rationing of supplies such as masks began last week.
Hospitals nationwide have experienced shortages -- or an outright lack -- of protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning late last month, VA, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Health joined forces to use 3D printing to prototype some of those medical supplies, such as respirators, masks, face shields, ventilators and other equipment.
Contributing to the fabrication of critical supplies falls under VA's fourth mission to serve as a backup for the American healthcare system during times of crisis.
“VA is at the forefront of using 3D printing technology to benefit our patients,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement April 14. “The collective actions of our partners allow us to bring VA’s medical expertise in 3D printing to the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, helping health care providers and patients stay safe.”
VA's 3D printing operation is based at the Puget Sound VA Healthcare System and "grew out of the efforts of local VA clinical innovators and now includes 33 sites exploring a wide range of clinical applications, including pre-surgical planning, orthotics and prosthetics, assistive technology, dental applications, bioprinting and now rapid prototyping and testing in response to COVID-19," according to a VA news release.
VA frontline medical staff and veteran patients across the country told Connecting Vets in recent weeks about supply shortages at department hospitals and clinics, including rationing masks, masks that expired years ago, washing and reusing disposable masks, a shortage of gowns, a lack of respirators for staff treating COVID-19 patients and more.
VA denied all of those allegations repeatedly, saying all of its staff had appropriate protective equipment, though its own internal communications said otherwise.
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Reach Abbie Bennett: abbie@connectingvets.com or @AbbieRBennett.
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