Austin healthcare clinic treating uninsured, underinsured patients reportedly experiencing PPE shortage

AUSTIN, Texas - An Austin healthcare clinic treating approximately 20,000 uninsured and underinsured Central Texans is reportedly experiencing a PPE shortage.

Dr. Pritesh Gandhi, Associate Chief Medical Officer at the People’s Community Clinic, says the clinic is experiencing the shortage while testing and treating COVID-19 patients.

Gandhi, who is also a congressional candidate, recently made a “how-to” video showing healthcare providers how to safely take off and place a N-95 mask in a Tupperware container without contaminating it, so it can be reused. 

“It is ludicrous for lack of a better word,” said Gandhi.

Gandhi says he has an N-95 mask that he rotates every three to four clinics. He often wears masks over the N-95 to help keep it clean for reuse. 

“That’s not ideal, but frankly we’re in much better positioning than many other clinics and hospitals in the region but at baseline we ought to not reuse any of these supplies,” he explained. 

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Gandhi says he would like to see expanded testing and contact tracing programs. He would also like to see American factories utilized to make masks “in massive amounts so that we are prepared not only for the summer but into this fall’s flu season.” 

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