NJAASC has curated authoritative information and a list of resources for our Membership’s reference. We will continue to update this as more information becomes available.
PAST COVID E-BLAST HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED DUE TO SPACE RESTRAINTS AND TO KEEP THINGS CURRENT.
REVISED ED FROM DEPARTMENT REGARDING TESTING IS COMING! – 7/27/20
A revised ED 20-016 should be forthcoming today or tomorrow.
The Department has been sympathetic to the letter we sent to the Commissioner about the very dire situation we are in as regards pre-op testing for ASCs.
Indeed they have been working on this issue since they received our letter.
You will recall in the letter I suggested several solutions. The Department is using one of those suggestions as the basis for the revised ED.
While testing will remain mandatory with only molecular still allowed, the solution (there will two options) will in my opinion greatly help with the issue of test results not arriving in time.
Most importantly, there will be no need to have the patients test multiple times if results are not available within the six day time frame.
One more example of NJAASC listening to ASCs, recognizing a problem, and cooperating with the Department on a solution.
Watch for the ED.
AGAIN- YOU CANNOT USE
THIS TEST
FOR ASC PRE-OP TESTING!!! – 7/27/20
This issue has been addressed in COVID e-blasts on numerous occasions, but it continues to arise again and again!
This antigen test
IS NOT
acceptable by the Department of Health as a pre op test for ASCs.
Make sure your doctors are writing orders for the correct test, as the labs do not make that decision.
The Department is and will be enforcing this by the way, so if you are surveyed and noted as using an incorrect test there will be consequences.
Q:
Dr. Kirn has anything changed, the Quidel antigen test is still no good for ASCs for pre-opt testing, correct?
A:
Correct
Dr. Thomas Kirn
Medical Director
Public Health Laboratory Services
New Jersey Department of Health
REMEMBER IN ADDITION TO TESTING THE PATIENT MUST QUARANTINE – 7/27/20
It has come to my attention that doctors do not know about or simply ignore an important part of the ASC guidelines.
In addition to testing- only molecular,
NOT
Antigen- patients must quarantine after they take the test.
This does not mean that they test and then get their blood work, pre-op testing done. Once they get their COVID test, they quarantine until the day of procedure.
Page 8, of ED 20-016:
F: The following is required for the patient’s procedure to be performed as scheduled.
i ‘Self-quarantine in their residence or other location following testing and up until the day of surgery.’
