Valued Voice

Seasonal respiratory illness levels, especially very high influenza and RSV rates, are driving increasing emergency department visits at hospitals across the state.  This week Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalitions—HERCs—reminded their partners of a resource that may be of assistance in responding to a severe flu season.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Medical Stockpile is a cache of state-owned medical surge supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) including gloves, gowns, coveralls, face masks, face shields and N95 respirators.

To reduce inventory in preparation for Stockpile transition to long-term storage, some supplies are currently available at no cost to governmental agencies and non-profit entities.

To request supplies, DHS directs eligible facilities or agencies to use the most recent version of the DHS Stockpile Request form, F-02825. The DHS Medical Stockpile may be accessed by governmental agencies, non-profit entities and non-profit and for-profit health care entities.

You can reach out the WHA’s Jon Hoelter or Ann Zenk for questions about the DHS Medical Stockpile or any other emergency preparedness issue.