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All information contained in this email is confidential and not to be shared outside of the organization.
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TO:
All Members of the RWJUH Family
FROM: John J. Gantner, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
RE:
RWJUH COVID-19 Update
Situational Update
As of this morning, RWJUH is managing 37 COVID-19 inpatients and is holding another 21 patients awaiting test results. Since early March, RWJUH has managed a total of 74 COVID-19 patients.
Globally, over 1/2 million people have tested positive for COVID-19. Approximately, 75,000 of those cases are in the United States; New York and New Jersey are ranked #1 and #2 at 33,000 and 6,800 cases, respectively.
Medical Staff Mask Distribution
Last night, RWJUH initiated an updated Medical Staff mask distribution process in which masks are handed out in the East Tower Rotunda from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. During off-hours, masks can be obtained at the Information Desk in the Courtyard.
Triage Tent Update
It has been a little over one week since RWJUH opened the pre-screening tents outside the Emergency Department. The Triage Tents have proven to be very effective in safely directing patients to the appropriate level of care. Over 300 patients have already been triaged through the tents which are operational 12 hours/day.
A Story for Sharing
Kathy Zavotsky, an Assistant Vice President in our Nursing Division, shared a very moving personal experience with me this morning that I wanted to pass along to the entire RWJUH family.
Last evening, Kathy was walking down Somerset Street on her way to the Parking Deck, when she noticed a woman clutching the metal fence in front of Children’s Specialized Hospital. As Kathy got closer, the woman engaged Kathy and explained that this was the only way she could now visit with her child. Kathy looked up and saw a young boy in a wheelchair on a balcony of Children’s Specialized Hospital. The child was kicking his legs, obviously excited to see his Mom, even if she was a hundred feet away and behind a fence. Kathy explained to the mother that this would not last forever and reassured her that she was acting in the very best interest of her child by not visiting in person.
As we close in on our first month of battling this terrible pandemic, I know that each of us has felt a hundred feet away and behind a fence from something or someone that really matters. As Kathy said, this will not last forever. Keep strong! Team work, mutual support and the RWJUH spirit will get us through this. We will all know that our job is done when that loving mother is reunited with her son.
The Community Appreciates You
The Bridgewater Girl Scout Troops #61069 and #61237 provided a generous donation of Girl Scout Cookies which were distributed to the RWJUH Medical Staff and COVID-19 units.
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Some of our local community children shared cards and wishes that happen to coincide with our
#RWJUHStrong
campaign.
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Donations
RWJBH system-wide is fortunate to have many individuals, foundations and corporations who want to assist their local hospitals within their respective communities during this pandemic.
These kind, heartfelt gestures are perfect examples of why we all chose to work in healthcare.
Every day, I am reminded of how proud I am to work beside each and every one of you. #
RWJUHStrong
CLICK HERE
for today's daily update from the RWJBarnabas Health system offices.
#RWJUHSTRONG
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House APPs
Send your
#RWJUHSTRONG
photos to
chris.hoenig@rwjbh.org
and we'll feature them in the daily emails and on the new screen in the Courtyard!
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RWJUH COVID Situational Update
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As of 12:00 PM,
RWJUH
had
37 COVID-positive patients
in the hospital. Tests on additional patients and potential discharges of positive patients were pending. 19 patients were in ICU level of care.
RWJUH has had 74 COVID 19-positive tests to date.
SBMU
,
RCU
and
4 West
are cohorting
COVID-positive med/surg
patients (IMCs on 4 West).
MICU
&
CCU
are cohorting
COVID-positive ICU
patients. The former
SICU-CORE
space is set to open tomorrow to accept COVID-positive ICU patients, as well. (Non-COVID MICU patients have been reassigned to the former SICU-West space.)
Today, RWJUH
downgraded a COVID-positive patient
out of the ICU for the first time during this pandemic.
As of 1:00 PM, the
NJ Dept. of Health
is reporting
6,876 COVID-positive patients
in the state -- an
increase of 2,492
from yesterday -- and
81 deaths
. Of those, 505 positive patients are in Middlesex County, 501 are in Monmouth County, and 179 are in Somerset County.
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RWJUH Releases COVID-19 Treatment Protocols
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The
RWJUH Infectious Disease team
has released
treatment protocols for COVID-19
patients.
The protocols break down treatment plans for patients requiring
ICU-level of care
, requiring
supplemental oxygen
, and those with
lower respiratory tract disease with risk factors
for progression to severe disease.
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As our hospital and Medical Staff continue working hard to provide the best care possible to our community, many are
asking what they can do to help
.
From PPE to food, and from technology to money, every little bit helps.
RWJUH and the RWJBarnabas Health system are
streamlining the processes
to vet, collection and distribute donations.
CLICK HERE
for a link that you can share that includes ways the public can help, and contact information to connect them with those who can help.
Volunteering
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As the number of COVID-positive patients (and clinicians) increases, we are working on plans to
maintain our clinical staff
to provide great care for our patients.
IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO ROUND AND TAKE CALLS AT RWJUH
(for COVID and/or non-COVID patients),
please fill out the form below
.
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Additionally, RWJUH may look to clinicians to
help set patients on ventilators
should the surge in intubated patients outpace our Respiratory Therapy capacity. Clinicians may volunteer to assist with ventilating patients.
CLICK HERE
for a brief overview on how to operate the models of ventilator used at RWJUH.
NOTE: We have not yet reached the level where we are calling on volunteers to begin rounding. This process is to allow us to build our contact lists, if the need to activate volunteers.
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- TONIGHT (8:30 PM ET), Temple Lung Center's Dr. Gerard Criner will join colleagues from China & the U.S. in a livestream webinar to discuss the U.S. status and experiences treating COVID-positive patients. CLICK HERE for the webinar link.
- The RWJUH Emergency Department has received a device known as the AeroBox, which is designed to limit the risk of exposure to clinicians while intubating COVID-positive patients and PUIs. The acrylic box was designed by a Taiwanese physician, who shared the plans online. The Rutgers Biomedical Engineering Team used those plans to construct these boxes.
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- The ACGME has established guidelines for reassigning residents/fellows in a pandemic, and Rutgers RWJMS has the flexibility to do so (i.e. reassign an endocrine fellow to general medicine service). Processes are in place to activate this plan if/when needed. CLICK HERE for more from the ACGME.
- RWJUH is eliminating the ventilation portion for all Nuclear Medicine Lung scans for the foreseeable future. This is to protect our patients and staff alike, because of possible room contamination during the aerosol administration. If you believe your patient needs a lung scan, please obtain a Chest X-ray, PA and Lateral preferably, since aerosol ventilation is not being performed. Perfusion imaging alone, will often be diagnostic at ruling in or ruling out pulmonary embolism, particularly with a normal or near normal Chest X-ray.
- Additionally, due to a shortage in swabs and viral transport medium, RWJUH is only taking swabs from patients who are previously approved to be tested. Additionally, in the interest of conserving swabs and viral transport medium for patients requiring COVID-19 testing, please do not order any Respiratory Virus Panels (RVPs) until further notice.
- Yesterday (3/25), Governor Murphy signed an Executive Order requiring childcare centers to close, except for those exclusively serving the children of essential personnel. CLICK HERE for more details.
- RWJUH, along with the entire RWJBarnabas Health system, continue to manage our supplies, including PPE, medications, and equipment like ventilators. At this time, RWJUH continues to maintain an adequate stock of PPE. While our material team continues to source additional supplies and we are accepting donations, we are meeting staff needs at this time.
- The triage tent outside the Emergency Department continues to work really well. ED leadership is evaluating expanding hours in the tent.
- Updated guidance is available on the cleaning and reuse of goggles and face shields. CLICK HERE for details.
- If you are concerned you may have been exposed to a COVID-19 positive patient, either in the community or in the hospital, please self-monitor your symptoms, including checking your temperature twice a day. Report any symptoms/temperature over 100.0 to RWJUH Corporate Care/Employee Health.
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Surgical Masks Available - East Tower Rotunda
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A
new masking policy
is in effect.
Clinicians may pick up a surgical mask in the East Tower Rotunda from 7a-7p daily.
Please present your ID.
On off-hours, masks can be signed out at the Information Desk in the Courtyard.
Masks can be used on
non-COVID units
for an
entire day
and discarded when you leave the hospital. If the mask becomes
wet or soiled
, please discard and request a new mask.
For
COVID-cohorted units
, please follow PPE protocols when seeing patients.
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These links are provided solely for your consideration. The RWJUH Medical Staff Office is not providing these as recommendations for care of patients.
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REMINDER: Call For IP Approval BEFORE
Ordering COVID-19 Testing
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RWJUH
is continuing to conduct a
LIMITED
number of COVID-19 tests
in-house.
ALL REQUESTS FOR COVID-19 TESTING MUST GO THROUGH INFECTION PREVENTION
.
The NEW phone number for testing approval is
732-947-9620
.
NOTE: This is a new phone number, opened Tuesday.
PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS NUMBER WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE OF RWJUH.
DO NOT CALL THE COVID-19 HOSPITALIST TEAM SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN GETTING TESTING APPROVED
. The Hospitalist team is focused on caring for these patients and does not influence testing decisions.
For Infection Prevention questions, please use extensions
2480
/
4482
/
7552
/
4474
during regular business hours. The public may call
1-800-222-1222
for any COVID-19 questions.
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Do NOT Send Patients To ED Unless
They Require Hospitalization
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Please
do
NOT
send patients to the RWJUH Emergency Department for COVID-19 testing
unless they require hospitalization
.
Due to a
shortage of swabs and viral transport medium
, RWJUH is currently unable to test everyone who comes into the Emergency Department.
As noted above, all tests require the approval of RWJUH Infection Prevention.
Outpatient testing facilities
are now open in several NJ counties.
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Are You Under Quarantine?
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If you are
presently under quarantine
, please contact the
Medical Staff Office
at
RWJNBMA@rwjbh.org
or
(732) 937-8767
.
Providers under quarantine should
contact RWJUH Corporate Care/Employee Health
for
clearance to return
to work. You may also need clearance from your employer.
Please
provide documentation to the Medical Staff Office
of your clearance to return to work.
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In addition to being a closed service,
SBMU, RCU, MICU and CCU
are
closed units
for the protection of our patients and providers.
Please do not enter SBMU, RCU, MICU or CCU
unless asked or consulted by the
COVID-19 Hospitalist or Intensivist
team.
This is both for
your protection
- limiting your risk of exposure to the virus - and in the interest of
high quality patient care
, keeping the patients treatment limited to teams that are trained and gaining expertise in COVID-19.
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Every weekday morning, a
video briefing
by
Dr. Jim Salwitz
will be released, providing an update on COVID-19 activity at RWJUH and the implementation of the hospital's action plan.
BOOKMARK THIS PAGE
and check daily for updates.
New briefings will be posted at approximately 10:00 AM.
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- Blood donations continue to be needed. CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment with the RWJUH Blood Services team.
- The Courtyard doors right beside Starbucks, leading to/from the East Tower, are being closed and made swipe-access only. The doors nearest the East Tower elevators will no longer require a swipe.
- New guidelines are in place for the handling of COVID-positive decedents. All expirations of COVID-positive patients must be reported to the Medical Examiner's office and the NJ DOH Communicable Disease alert statement must be included, with COVID-19 written in as the infectious agent. CLICK HERE for the full guidelines.
- ALL transfers into RWJUH must be reviewed and approved by the Service Chief. Any patients that have tested positive for, or suspected of having COVID-19 must be approved by the Chief Medical Officer or his designee.
- ALL coordination with government officials must be handled through hospital leadership. If you have questions or suggestions for state leaders, please email Dr. Salwitz and he will coordinate with RWJUH leadership.
- Additionally, all members of the Medical Staff are expected to protect confidential information, including the information contained in this email. DO NOT SHARE with the press or on social media. Given the volatility of the current environment, especially on social media, you should always use caution in what you post. If you are approached by the media for interviews, please reach out to the RWJUH Medical Staff Office to aid in clearing with the hospital Public Affairs team any hospital information that can be shared.
- Additionally, the IP team continues to assess guidance regarding quarantining during this time. The latest guidance/policy change keeps RWJBH employees at work after an exposure as long as there is no evidence of even mild symptoms. Exposed staff will wear a surgical mask for 14 days. As of now, a return to work may be allowed after 7 days of improving respiratory symptoms IF the COVID-positive patient is afebrile for 72 hours, without the need for medication. CLICK HERE to read the RWJBH Return to Work Policy.
- Please ensure your ID is visible at all times. RWJUH continues to evaluate campus entrance points to ensure the safety of our patients, clinicians and staff.
- Leaders at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital continue finalizing plans to cohort all pediatric patients with respiratory illness, including COVID 19-positive patients and PUIs.
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Additional Useful Resources
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Previous RWJUH COVID-19 Updates:
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