Greater Washington’s acute-care facilities are getting ready for the expected patient surge fueled by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Part of that preparation? A concerted effort to conserve supplies — using protective gear only when necessary and cutting down on the number of people exposed to patients — to ensure the equipment lasts.

The region’s hospitals are also taking much closer inventory of equipment such as ventilators and respirators, drugs like Albuterol inhalers, testing kits and personal protective equipment, or PPE, which includes masks, eye shields and gowns.

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