DSM Works to Support Health Care PPE Requests
GREATER DES MOINES, IA (March 24, 2020) – Recently, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encouraged Iowa businesses and organizations to donate extra personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist health care providers and health care facilities responding to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). To amplify this request, the Greater Des Moines Partnership is also asking for all Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses and residents to participate in this effort by donating unused items such as gloves, gowns, eye protection and masks to county public health departments or local emergency managers to help support the healthcare workforce.
Several businesses already made donations including Nationwide, NCMIC and DMACC, demonstrating the strength of our region when we rally together.
“Nationwide cares about mitigating the impact of this crisis on the communities where we live and work as much as possible. We operate busy occupational health clinics at our major facilities in Columbus and Des Moines, and had these supplies in place for our clinic use. Since we were able to successfully and quickly transition to a work-from-home posture in the past few weeks, we wanted to do the right thing and donate these supplies to local medical facilities that need them. We encourage all businesses and organizations to explore ways that we can help the medical professionals in these unprecedented times.” — Jeff Rommel, Senior Vice President, Nationwide P&C Sales and Distribution and senior leader at Nationwide’s Des Moines operations.
“Now more than ever we need to work together. NCMIC has been working to reduce the number of employees in our office from over 200 to less than 20. In doing so, we did a quick inventory of all our COVID-19 supplies and wanted to immediately get the excess to where they’re needed to protect the men and women working on the front lines, helping to keep our family, friends and neighbors safe during this historic event. We are in this together.” —– Mike McCoy, CEO of NCMIC
“Over the weekend, DMACC learned that Broadlawns had a significant and immediate need for the N95 masks to protect their health direct care professionals. On Monday, we worked with Dr. Yogi Shah, Broadlawns’ Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs, to arrange for the pick-up of the 4,000 masks that DMACC had in stock. In fact, Dr. Shah picked them up personally. We know that many of Broadlawns’ nursing staff are DMACC graduates and we wanted to contribute to their protection and the care of their patients.” — Rob Denson, President of DMACC
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.