Information from the Winnebago County Health Department
Winnebago County Public Health Department
COVID-19 Updates for Healthcare Providers & First Responders
March 30, 2020
Please distribute widely. The format may be altered when forwarded in an email. Find a shareable link here.
The Department of Health Services has posted guidance for extended use and limited reuse of N95 respirators in healthcare settings. This guidance defines extended use and reuse, and provides recommended practices to reduce contact transmission. This and other guidance can be found on the DHS COVID-19 PPE page.
EMS/LEO/FIRE Exposure Triage for Persons Under Investigation: The Winnebago County Health Department has developed guidelines for work exclusion for EMS, Law Enforcement and Fire Department personnel (from here on out referred to as Emergency personnel or EP) who have a potential COVID 19 exposure.
New public-private partnerships increase Wisconsin's laboratory testing capacity for COVID-19. The new partnerships include laboratory support from Exact Sciences, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Promega and UW Health. These organizations, along with the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network, will share knowledge, resources and technology to bolster Wisconsin’s testing capacity.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is helping connect essential workforce families to local, safe child care. Healthcare workers and essential employees are able to submit a request for care or view up-to-date availability using a new child care map. DCF is working with health care providers, child care centers, community organizations and schools to open emergency child care centers for essential workforce families and has provided guidance and resources for organizations interested in opening child care centers.
Q: According to Governor Evers' Executive Order #16, who is now qualified to fill surge capacity to support the COVID-19 public health emergency?
A: The order:
Allows for Graduate Nurse temporary licensure. The temporary license is valid until the end of the emergency or six months after the availability of NCLEX.
Allows for renewal of license for nurses that have been out of the workforce beyond five years without having to complete the five year refresher course. Applicants must be free of any disciplinary sanctions. Payment of licensure application fees is not required.
Allows for nurses from other states who are in good standing with their Board of Nursing to practice in Wisconsin without applying for a temporary license.
During this COCA Call, clinicians will provide an overview of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients, including case presentations of critically ill adults and clinical management challenges, and summarize recently published guidelines on clinical management of critically ill adults.
Fox Valley HERC Hospital Summary 3/30/20: Med/surge and ICU beds appear to be in normal status today. Testing supplies still are not readily available, but there are some reports of some increased testing capacity.
