UnityPoint Health calls for community help with COVID-19
Des Moines, IA – The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the biggest challenges we've ever faced. Our teams are tackling it head on and continuing to do what we do every day: provide the best patient care possible. The response from our community has been overwhelming. The following are ways community members can get involved to support UPH during this unprecedented pandemic.
Donate PPEs and Medical Supplies
We are in need of the following supplies:
- Surgical and/or procedural masks
- N95 masks
- Exam gloves or of all sizes (nitrile or latex is preferred)
- Eye protection – goggles/face shields (reusable or disposable)
- Hand sanitizer – must be minimum of 60% alcohol
- Paper bags - any size from lunch to grocery (for mask storage)
- Hair/head covers
If you have any questions regarding donations of supplies or PPE, please contact Kim Wallace at 515-241-6996 or Kimberly.wallace@unitypoint.org.
Donate Handmade Masks
We’ve been overwhelmed by the generous offers from the community to make masks for our staff. We will begin collecting them and ask that you follow the pattern and instructions located at www.unitypoint.org/help.
* Please note: We will accept homemade masks, but will not distribute them to our health care workers until all of our medically-issued masks are depleted.
Donate to COVID-19 Relief Fund
The work of our UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Foundation is critical during times like these. Our relief fund will provide additional resources to our patients, families and further support our physicians, nurses and team members. Donations would be used to buy meals, gift cards, pay for new scrubs and other support as needed. One hundred percent of your gift will be used for these purposes. Please consider making a donation at www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/crisissupport or drop off your generous donation at our donation station listed below.
Donation Station Location and Hours:
Iowa Methodist Medical Center
1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
Donation Station – located inside the Parking Ramp on Level 4 (use the Handicap entrance)
Monday-Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Visit our donation page at www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/covid-19-help as this will be updated regularly as our needs continue you to change.
Donate Blood
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, blood centers across the country have had to cancel many of its mobile blood drives, which make up the majority of the local blood supplies. The blood supply statewide is critical. We encourage healthy members of the community to consider donating blood and blood plasma. Go to lifeservebloodcenter.org for additional information.
Practice Social Distancing
The most important thing everyone can do is to continue to practice physical distancing. Social distancing refers to public health interventions that can help stop infectious disease transmission by avoiding crowds and large gatherings such as weddings, concerts, conferences, sporting events, and mass transit. Best practice requires maintaining at least a six-foot distance between yourself and others.
About UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines has more than 7,700 employees and 1,000 physicians providing convenient care to patients in central Iowa through our integrated network of clinics, hospitals and home care services. UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is made of up Iowa Methodist Medical Center, including Younker Rehabilitation and central Iowa's only Level I Trauma Center; Iowa Lutheran Hospital; Methodist West Hospital; Blank Children’s Hospital, including pediatric sub-specialty clinics; John Stoddard Cancer Center; Grinnell Regional Medical Center; Eyerly Ball; UnityPoint Clinic; UnityPoint at Home and UnityPoint Hospice.