special FEATURE
by LAURA HAYWOOD
PPE ROAD SHOW
The AMS PPE Road Show was no small endeavor
for the AMS, with almost 600,000 pieces of PPE
distributed between April and June. Supplies
were allocated based on the counties and cities
with existing or growing COVID-19 cases. On April
21, PPE trucks stopped in Warren and Arkadelphia,
and on April 22, trucks made stops in Alma,
Springdale, Mountain Home, and Jonesboro.
Addiditonal shipments arrived in May and June,
and the AMS staff shipped over 700 boxes of PPE
to 333 clinics in need.
Helping Arkansas physicians and their practices
get the PPE they need to take care of their
patients has been one of our top prorities
during COVID-19, and we are proud to be able
to serve you during this time.
Here's what a few PPE recipients had to say:
The Arkansas Medical Society, in conjunction
with Governor Asa Hutchinson and
the Department of Emergency Management,
brought critical personal protective
equipment (PPE) to medical clinics around
the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, Governor Asa Hutchinson allocated $75
million dollars for the purchase of PPE and ventilators
for health care professionals and first responders
treating COVID-19, and AMS was instrumental
in securing a portion of these purchases
for medical clinics.
• We were very excited when AMS said they
have PPE for our clinic. I had some patients
who were scared to come to the clinic. With
this PPE, I was able to see them and be
protected and make sure COVID-19 doesn't
spread. – Olabode Olumofin, MD, MPH, First
US Clinic PA, Pine Bluff.
• We were able to open up our lab services back
up to thyroid patients who needed to get their
levels checked. – Hannah Manus, Harmony
Health Clinic, Little Rock.
• We are so thankful and grateful for the PPE.
These are going to help us do our jobs and
take care of our patients. – Sheryl Spieldenner,
Daugherty & Daugherty Medical Clinic,
Jacksonville.
• Thank You for the supplies...it has allowed us
to protect our patients and staff. – Karen Connelley,
Connelley Medical Clinic, Monticello.
18 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society www.ArkMed.org