Providing Personal Protective Equipment in Northwest Arkansas
Ensuring the safety of health care workers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is vitally important. The vast surge in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has strained the products’ supply chain, creating purchasing and delivery challenges. Through collaboration with the Northwest Arkansas Council, we were able to make an in-kind donation of nearly 300,000 pieces of PPE for medical facilities in Northwest Arkansas. The much-needed supplies, such as masks, gowns, and goggles, were delivered to a temporary warehouse in Rogers on Monday, May 18. Local distribution is being coordinated through the Northwest Arkansas Council’s Health Care Transformation Division, a group created in 2019 to facilitate collaboration among health care providers to make the region a destination for health care.
“The perseverance shown by our community’s medical professionals during this time has been nothing short of inspirational,” said Nick Hobbs, executive vice president and president of Dedicated Contract Services and Final Mile Services at J.B. Hunt. “J.B. Hunt understands the importance of practicing safety in the work environment each day. We were compelled to apply our expertise in international logistics and transportation to provide these supplies as a way to help protect and heal our community.”
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson thanked J.B. Hunt and its employees for their resilient work to keep freight moving despite the challenging environment.
“I am certain that hundreds of health care workers, patients, and their loved ones will be relieved when they learn that J.B. Hunt has tracked down and delivered this significant supply of personal protective equipment,” Governor Hutchinson said. “This act of generosity is typical of this company’s support of Arkansas through the years. Thank you for your concern, compassion, and diligence in your effort to keep so many Arkansans safe from COVID-19.”
Local medical facilities benefiting from the donation were excited to receive the supplies.
“J.B. Hunt’s generous donation provides essential PPE and supplies that will protect health care workers and patients during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Susan Barrett, chair of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s Health Care Transformation Division. “The support from corporate partners – along with regional collaboration among health care providers – will be vital to achieving a successful response.”
The Health Care Transformation Division includes eight major health care providers in the region: Arkansas Children’s Northwest, Mercy Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Health, University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Veteran’s Health Care System of the Ozarks, Washington Regional Medical Center, and Whole Health Institute. Community Clinic NWA will also benefit from the personal protective equipment donation. If you need help procuring and transporting PPE, please reach out to us by emailing PPE@jbhunt.com.