MILWAUKEE — When the pandemic began, a shortage of personal protective equipment forced hospitals to get creative.

Milwaukee VA Dr. Ankur Patel’s dental chair is seeing fewer patients this year than ever before. Which is why he, along with the spinal cord injury departments, put their heads together to make their own PPE.

“It’s been the better part of a year now we have been doing this. As recently as a month ago our dental clinic was asked to step up again and make some more shields,” Chief of Dental Service Dr. Patel says.

The two departments worked together to form a stronger, more durable version of a shield for capper helmets. Capper helmets allow healthcare professionals to remain safe while treating patients.

“The manufactured lenses, if used properly, will last a few days. If handled well, our shields will last a few months, it is that much more durable,” Patel says.

So over the past year, employees in the dental unit at the Milwaukee VA have been working to build these shields so they are ready for use in the hospital.

“Me and a team definitely made a couple thousand in the last few weeks. It’s been a long project,” a Milwaukee VA employee from the dental department says.

It’s almost coming a year in full circle for these healthcare workers who have adapted and innovated throughout COVID-19.

“I never thought in my life my dental residents or my dental staff would be putting together PPE in our conference room… but here we are,” Patel says.

Patel says he is proud of the hard work and flexibility of his staff and the hospital to help create a safe environment to those on the frontlines. The VA says, price wise, in the long run it’s cheaper for them to make the shields themselves. The original shields cost around $3-5 but only last a few days; while these shields cost around $14 they last much longer and are more durable.