PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK

As N95 masks become a scarce resource during the COVID-19 pandemic, some Pittsburgh hospitals will begin using masks that aren’t commonly seen in a medical setting.

Allegheny Health Network has announced it will supply P100 face masks to medical professionals working on the front lines against COVID-19. Serving as an alternative to N95 masks, the P100 is designed for reuse and blocks 99.7% of particles in the air.

“We want our clinical teams to be 100-percent focused on the care of our patients with full confidence that they have the [personal protective equipment] they need to do their jobs at this critical time,” says Sri Chalikonda, AHN’s Chief Medical Operations Officer.

The national shortage of disposable face masks has made AHN consider alternative safety options. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have confirmed that NIOSH-approved masks, such as the P100 models, can be an alternative for N95 supplies. 

The hospital system will be using The Advantage 200 LS Respirator from Cranberry-based company MSA, a manufacturer of safety equipment. AHN will distribute 4,000 of these masks across the hospital system.