March 14, 2020
TO:
All Members of the RWJUH Family
FROM: John J. Gantner, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
RE:
RWJUH COVID-19 Update
As we respond to the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19), providing a safe environment for our caregivers and patients continues to be our top priority. Managing this outbreak has required us to change certain standard operating procedures.
One major area of concern at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) is maintaining our supply of masks - an issue impacting all hospitals throughout the United States. In response to the national high demand for masks and in order to conserve, RWJUH has implemented tighter controls over the use and distribution of all masks. These conservation measures include:
- A reduction in the standard supply of masks maintained on the nursing units and other patient care areas. Understandably, this reduction in the working supply of masks has caused some uncertainty and concern among staff. However, it is important to note that as a result of our new conservation measures, RWJUH has not encountered a situation where a mask was needed but was not available. Our Leadership Team gave thoughtful consideration to these new controls before implementing them. Leadership thoroughly reviews both our overall mask count and our N-95 mask inventory several times each day to ensure that our supply is distributed properly.
- We also continue to closely monitor the CDC guidelines to ensure that we are following the recommendations for N-95 respirators during the COVID-19 response. Our processes have changed for N-95 respirator distribution as a means to conserve and ensure that they are distributed to the appropriate units that have airborne isolation patients. The CDC is continuing to update their N-95 respirator recommendations frequently and we will evaluate and enhance our processes as we receive the recommendations.
- Due to the high demand of N-95 respirators you may notice that various manufacturers are being distributed throughout the organization. We are pursuing additional options to ensure that we have an adequate supply of masks available every day. This involves purchasing products from new vendors, which will require more education and additional “fit” testing which is currently being provided.
- Finally, Governor Murphy contacted RWJUH on Friday and informed us that New Jersey is scheduled to receive a distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the national strategic stockpile early next week. This is much welcome news and we believe that this will give us the necessary supplies we need to maintain a safe environment for our staff and patients.
I will continue to provide you with updates as new developments occur. Again, on behalf of our Leadership Team, thank you for all that you do for our patients, our hospital and our community.
