One of the most difficult medical challenges throughout history has been protecting healthcare workers from infectious diseases. A prime reason brave medical professionals are willing to take the risks required to treat such diseases is their confidence in modern personal protective equipment (PPE).
However, according to Dr. Elizabeth Beam, associate professor of nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and director of the HEROES grant at the College of Nursing, current PPE products on the market are not good enough.
"The perception of safety is a key component of what keeps military and civilian healthcare workers at the bedside," Dr. Beam said. "The pandemic showed, particularly with supply chain issues, that we were not prepared for a respiratory pathogen at this scale. There is also a great learning need amongst healthcare workers about how to use the existing tools for respiratory protection."
With colleagues, Dr. Beam has undertaken and advanced many projects that involve investigating and improving PPE, as well as related processes and education.
During the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak, Dr. Beam provided educational materials on PPE that heavily influenced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PPE guidance. Due to this expertise, she is continually asked to contribute to the development of guidelines, education and best practices internationally.
A recent study by Dr. Beam revealed that some healthcare workers, even after training, forget to check mask seals or practice proper hand hygiene when doffing and donning PPE, which increases infection risk. Improving or simplifying training might help eliminate these bad habits, Dr. Beam said, but the better solution may be to create next-generation equipment that is simpler to use.
"I’ve tried hard to find better ways to teach people — breaking training down into smaller steps," she explained. "But all those steps add to the provider’s mental load and make it harder for them to do their job. Imagine if we had PPE that didn’t require things like mask seal checks."
Dr. Beam deeply understands the struggles of frontline healthcare workers. While working toward her degrees at UNMC, she began her career as a medical-surgical and outpatient treatment center nurse working with complex oncology, transplant and neurological patients.
Patients with immunosuppression must focus on protecting themselves throughout their care. Nurses who care for those patients are constantly focused on protecting them with prophylactic medications, positive pressure rooms and excellent hygiene etiquette such as masks, hand hygiene and annual flu shots.
Dr. Shawn G. Gibbs, dean of the Texas A&M School of Public Health, has collaborated with Dr. Beam for more than 12 years on educational research, environmental cleaning and isolation transport projects. His high praise for her stems from the value of her real-world experience.
"She is extremely knowledgeable in the practical applications of this equipment," Dr. Gibbs said. "Her understanding goes well beyond the theoretical. Not only about PPE but how it’s used in the clinical healthcare environment, particularly by nurses. She can effectively identify what will and what will not work in an actual patient care environment."
Dr. Beam misses some things about working directly with patients — such as making a difference on a personal level. But she’s motivated by the profound impact she and her team can make through bigger projects that positively affect large numbers of people.
One of those projects is the development of the "Beam Helmet," a ruggedized powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). The project aligns with the purpose of the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designated by the Department of Defense. That purpose — to protect those who protect us all.
Dr. Beam serves as an NSRI Fellow along with her primary collaborator for the project, Dr. Bethany Lowndes, UNMC assistant professor of neurological sciences.
"COVID helped us see the potential harm of medical gear," Dr. Beam said. "For example, when N95 respirator masks are worn too long, they damage people’s faces and skin. And it’s not enough protection, either. The eyes are also at risk when we care for patients. There must be a better way."
The respirator, designed for use in austere conditions, helps the medical industry see what improved equipment could look like — as well as the potential financial benefit of producing it.
Dr. Beam won competitive Clinical and Translational Superstar funding through Great Plains IDeA-CTR in early 2023 to complete some customer discovery work, and the team plans to use the funds to continue improving the PAPR designs for both typical healthcare and field care situations.
Bringing this research out of the lab and into practical use is a major goal of Dr. Beam’s. It’s not enough for improved PPE to be safe and comfortable, there must also be financial incentives for manufacturers.
"It has been a joy to take my harebrained idea and make it real," Dr. Beam said. "It began as just a 3D rendering, and now it’s a physical prototype. It allows people to see the idea and will help us make equipment like this a reality in the future.
"This was only possible because of the relationships within NSRI and capabilities in the NU system. There is nothing you can’t do from here."
Dr. Beam has other ideas, too, for revolutionizing the nation’s responses to biological threats. The outbreak of COVID-19 highlighted many holes in the national healthcare system.
"I hear people say a biological threat could be much worse for national security than a chemical or radiological threat, and I think they’re right," she said. "I hope to create simple, easy-to-clean tech that reduces that threat and keeps our civilian and military healthcare workers safer than ever when they enter uncertain situations."
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About the National Strategic Research Institute
Through the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska leading scientists deliver innovative national security research, technology, product and strategy development, training and exercises, and subject matter expertise to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. One of only 15 DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Centers in the country, NSRI is sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command and works to ensure the United States’ safety and preparedness against increasingly sophisticated threats. Read about our mission.
