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Access to medical equipment and supplies

With an increased demand for respiratory products throughout the United States and reduced workforces in many factories and manufacturers due to social distance requirements, we are experiencing and anticipate continuous challenges accessing and maintaining inventory for a variety of products.

We are asking patients to develop plans for safely reusing supplies critical to their care plan. We have created this page with education resources to assist in this process.

Washing and reusing vital supplies

Many supplies used in the home care environment can safely be washed and reused.  The resources below can prolong the life of individual supplies and reduce the impact of potential shortages for everyone. Additionally, there may be ways to meet your current needs using other supply items or equipment- we are happy to brainstorm solutions if they become needed.

Please contact your clinician or a customer service representative at your location if you have specific questions related to your care plan.

The links below jump to cleaning instructions for specific equipment and supply categories.

Downloadable Resources

Due to COVID-19 one-liter and two-liter, sterile water drip bags have been difficult to stock. Please use the instructions below for reusing a sterile water drip bag.

Use the two links below to download a medical supply cleaning schedule and instructions for disinfecting reusable supplies.

Anywhere you see the asterisk (*) symbol, it means you have a choice whether or not to disinfect the supply.

Airway Pressure Monitor

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Blue Filter
Replace
When dirty or wet on inside
Pressure Line Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Pressure Line Tubing
Replace
When dirty or wet on inside

Apnea Monitor

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Belt
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
When dirty
Black Carbon Electrodes
Wipe with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Pin Lead Wires
Wipe with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Pre-Gelled Electrodes
Replace
When no longer stick to skin

Bi-Level or CPAP

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Blue Pollen Filter (Dreamstation)
Rinse with warm running water, air dry completely
Every two weeks
Light Blue Ultra Fine Filter (Dreamstation)
Replace
When dirty
Foam Filter (System One or PR1)
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Mask and Headgear
Wipe with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Mask and Headgear
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Oxygen Adapter (Blue)
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Oxygen Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Oxygen Tubing
Replace
When dirty or wet on inside
Pressure Valve
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Tubing: Bi-Level or CPAP
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Water Chamber
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Water Chamber
Empty water and air dry completely
Every day

Cough Assist

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Filter: Bacteria
Replace
When dirty or wet on inside
Filter: Black
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Mask
Wipe with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Mask
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week OR when dirty on inside
Trach Adapter with Extension
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Tubing Circuit
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every week OR when dirty on inside
White Adapter
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every week OR when dirty on inside

EtCO2 Monitoring

Supply Item
What To Do
When
FilterLine Assembly: Trach Tube or Nasal Cannula (Oridion Microcap EtCO2 Monitor)
Wipe with alcohol wipe
After each use
FilterLine Assembly: Trach Tube or Nasal Cannula (Oridion Microcap EtCO2 Monitor)
Replace
If tubing is wet on inside OR adapter does not come clean after wiping OR you are unable to get EtCO2 reading
Patient Adapter (Tidal Wave EtCO2 Monitor)
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
After each use
Patient Adapter (Tidal Wave EtCO2 Monitor)
Replace
If window is cloudy, scratched, cracked OR you are unable to get EtCO2 reading

Food Pump

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Farrell Valve Bag
Replace
Every day
Feeding Bag
Rinse with hot water, rinse with cold water, store in refrigerator
Between feedings
Feeding Bag
Replace
When not clean after rinsing
Feeding Tube Extension
Rinse with hot water, rinse with cold water, store in refrigerator
Between feedings
Feeding Tube Extension
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Med Straw and Fill Cap Coupler (purple disc)
Only use one med straw or disc per medication
When not washing after each use
Med Straw and Fill Cap Coupler (purple disc)
Place in a container with warm soapy water to soak until ready to wash. When washing, use warm soapy water and rinse clean. Air dry completely.
After each use when using a med straw or disc for more than one medication or daily when using for only one medication.
Med Straw and Fill Cap Coupler (purple disc)
Replace
When not clean after washing
Feeding Tube Extension
Replace
When not clean after washing
Syringe
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
After each use
Syringe
Replace
When not clean after washing

Additional resources available on the PHS website:

Heat & Humidity System

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Adapters, Drain Cup
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Filter—Air Intake
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Flow Restricting Adapters
Wipe with alcohol wipe
Every month
Flow Restricting Adapters
Replace
When not clean after wiping
Heater Wire / Pigtail
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every month
Oxygen Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Oxygen Tubing
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Patient Tubing Circuit
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Pressure Valve
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Temp Probe
Wipe with alcohol wipe
Every month
Trach Dome
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Tubing Circuit—2 foot (disposable)
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Tubing Circuit—2 foot (non-disposable)
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every month OR when dirty on inside
Water Chamber
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside.

High / Low Flow Heater Humidified Air and Oxygen System

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Adapters, Drain Cup
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Blue Filter
Replace
No set frequency. Only once wet on inside.
Circuit: High Flow
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Circuit Kit: Low Flow
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Filter: Compressor
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Heater Wire / Pigtail
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every month
Nasal Cannula
Wipe prongs with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Nasal Cannula
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty or wet on inside.
Oxygen Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Oxygen Tubing
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty or wet on inside.
Pressure Line Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Pressure Line Tubing
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty or wet on inside.
Temp Probe
Wipe with alcohol wipe
Every month.
Water Chamber
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside.

Nebulizer

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Filter
Replace
When dirty
Neb Cup
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
After every neb treatment
Neb Cup
Replace
If cracked OR does not come clean after washing OR as frequently as your child’s doctor orders
Neb Mask, Mouthpiece, Tee Adapter, Corrugated Tubing
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Neb Mask, Mouthpiece, Tee Adapter, Corrugated Tubing
Replace
If cracked OR does not come clean after washing OR as frequently as your child’s doctor orders
Neb Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Neb Tubing
Replace
If cracked OR dirty on inside OR as frequently as your child’s doctor orders

Oxygen

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Bubbler
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse
Every day
Filter: Air Intake, Foam or Sponge
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Filter: HEPA
Replace
When dirty
Nasal Cannula
Replace
When dirty on inside.
Oxygen Mask
Wipe with clean, damp cloth
Every day
Oxygen Mask
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty.
Oxygen Tubing
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every week
Oxygen Tubing
Replace
When dirty or wet on inside
Oxygen Tubing Adapter
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every month

Suction

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Canister
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
DeLee Manual Suction Catheter
Replace
After use
Elbow Adapter
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
When dirty
Filter
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty or wet on inside.
Reusable Suction Device
Replace
If cracked OR does not come clean after washing
Reusable Suction Device
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every 4 hours
Suction Catheter
Replace
According to PHS Education
Suction Tubing
Replace
No set frequency. Only if cracked OR does not come clean after washing.
Suction Tubing
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Silicone Tubing
Replace
No set frequency. Only once if cracked OR does not come clean after washing.
Silicone Tubing
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
When dirty

Vent

Supply Item
What To Do
When
Adapters, Drain Cup
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Adapters, Drain Cup
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Circuit, Patient Tubing Circuit (disposable)
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside OR not working.
Circuit, Patient Tubing Circuit (non-disposable)
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every month OR when dirty on inside
Circuit, Patient Tubing Circuit (non-disposable)
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect*, rinse, air dry completely
Every month OR when dirty on inside
Filter: Bacteria
Replace
No set frequency. Only when dirty or wet on inside.
Filter: Foam or Sponge
Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, air dry completely
Every week
Heater Wire / Pigtail
Wipe outside with clean, damp cloth
Every month with circuit change
Pink Cap
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Temp Probe
Wipe with alcohol wipe
Every month
Temp Probe Port
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every month
Trach Adapter
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every day
Trach Nose (HME)
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside.
Blue Tubing, Tubing Circuit—2 foot (disposable)
Replace
No set frequency. Only once dirty on inside.
Whisper Swivel
Wash with warm soapy water, disinfect, rinse, air dry completely
Every day when giving TOBI, Pulmozyme, or Hypertonic saline neb treatments, Every month with circuit change OR when dirty on inside OR not working

Additional resources on the PHS website related to vents:

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