• Earlier this week, we updated our Emergency Conditions and Inclement Weather Staffing and Absences Policy. The updated policy was distributed to all hospital directors. After assessing our staffing today, we have decided to activate this policy and it will remain in effect until further notice.

• Beginning Monday, March 16, RWJUH’s Laboratory will be able to handle a portion of the RWJBarnabas Health’s COVID-19 testing. This means that RWJBH facilities will not have to send specimens to Quest, LabCorp or the state. This will significantly decrease the health system’s reliance on the state lab and improve turnaround time. More information is provided in the attached daily briefing.

• We recognize that there has been extensive press coverage of COVID-19 novel Coronavirus and confirmation of additional cases will likely generate media interest. We remind all employees that all media inquiries must be directed to our Public Relations Department, which can be reached at 732-937-8593. As per hospital policy, employees are not permitted to contact or speak with the media unless authorized by a member of the Public Relations Department. In addition, employees are not permitted to share information that is confidential or proprietary to the hospital on any social media sites. CLICK HERE for a copy of the RWJBH social media policy. 

• CLICK HERE for the latest Daily Briefing Report that is sent out from the RWJBH corporate offices. The briefing contains additional up-to-date information regarding the impact of COVID-19.

• Plans include operationalizing the emergency room triage tent to support a safe patient flow environment. 

• Finally, as I mentioned in yesterday’s briefing all of our team members continue to excel in these most challenging times. 

• Testing. LIMITED number of COVID-19 tests in-house. ALL REQUESTS FOR COVID-19 TESTING MUST GO THROUGH INFECTION PREVENTION. NEW phone number for testing approval: 732-675-1056. Outpatient testing remains extremely limited/unavailable, though commercial testing development is fluid.

• Elective Procedures. While RWJUH retains full procedural capabilities, Medical Staff leadership has issued a recommendation that all purely elective procedures be postponed. It is at the clinician's discretion to determine what is purely elective. If your patient can not reasonably wait 2+ months for the procedure, you may choose to move forward. This is consistent with the most recent ACS guidelines.

• Hospital Action Plan. RWJUH senior leadership is holding multiple daily meetings to update and enact plans. More details are below.

• Space Planning. SBMU and RCU have been identified as units to cohort COVID-19 patients. Dedicated care teams are being identified to treat the cohorted patients.

• PPE/Masking. FIT testing on the new N95 masks has had a 30-40% failure rate. Surgical masks, droplet isolation, and negative pressure rooms (where available) have been deemed sufficient by the CDC for patients at lower-risk (no active cough, etc.) of spreading virus. This will help preserve the N95 supply for the highest-risk population.

• Visitor Restrictions. Remain in place (see link below for details). Entrances and doors on campus may be locked or made swipe-access only.