The Texas Medical Association has helped physicians across the state secure more than $25 million in personal protective equipment (PPE) since May 1 through its PPE Portal.
The portal was designed to help community physicians receive much- needed PPE, as demand outpaced supply throughout the state because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The TMA PPE Portal has allowed practices across Texas to remain open and keep physicians, staff, and patients safe during this public health emergency,” TMA President Diana Fite, MD, said. “Texas physicians remain committed to caring for their communities, and TMA is committed to helping them do that.”
The TMA PPE Portal is a partnership among TMA, county medical societies, and the state’s Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) partners and Regional Advisory Councils (RACs).
The portal is not a place to order PPE. Instead, clinics indicate their PPE needs through the online portal created by TMA. That information is regularly forwarded to the RACs and HPPs, which make the supplies available for county medical societies and other organizations to distribute.
Through the portal, 95 county medical societies have received:
- More than $12 million in gowns;
- More than $5 million in N95 and surgical masks;
- Almost $4 million in face shields; and
- More than $3 million in gloves, booties, and hand sanitizer.
Although the number of new COVID-19 cases has fallen since hitting a peak in mid-July, thousands of new cases are being reported daily, according to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Physicians and health care providers will continue to need PPE to care for future cases, particularly with influenza season only a few months away. The state has been warehousing PPE at 40 locations throughout Texas to meet those future needs, state health officials said last week.
Find more about TMA’s PPE Portal in this PPE Distribution FAQ.
As always, check the TMA COVID-19 Resource Center regularly for up-to-date news and the latest TMA materials for your practice.