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PAST COVID E-BLAST HAVE BEEN ARCHIVED DUE TO SPACE RESTRAINTS AND TO KEEP THINGS CURRENT.
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY EXTENDED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY- 8/3/20
All,
Governor Murphy signed
Executive Order No. 171
. The Order extends the Public Health Emergency that was declared on March 9, 2020 through Executive Order No. 103, which was previously extended on April 7, May 6, June 4, and July 2. Under the Emergency Health Powers Act, a declared public health emergency expires after 30 days unless renewed. Executive Order No. 171 extends all Executive Orders issued under the Governor’s authority under the Emergency Health Powers Act. It also extends all actions taken by any Executive Branch departments and agencies in response to the Public Health Emergency presented by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Governor Murphy also signed
Executive Order No. 170
, which temporarily extends certain statutory deadlines across state government that require review and action by agencies before a specified deadline. The deadlines were previously extended on June 30, with Executive Order No. 159. The statutory deadlines, in addition to certain effective dates that are being delayed, are included an the accompanying
Appendix to the Order
. The Order will take effect immediately.
Both Executive Orders and the Appendix are attached.
RATE OF TRANSMISSION CLIMBS, SETS OFF ALARMS – 8/3/20
SOME UGLY COVID NUMBERS FOR NEW JERSEY- 8/3/20
Under the latest 7/29/20 revision of ED 20-016, the Department provides for two new options as regards testing- and retains a third (
Time Sensitive -p.9)
In my and most people I speak with opinion, option #1 is the best and absolutely the safest option for ASCs- as it assures that any patient seen in your ASC will have a negative test result even if delayed beyond the six days.
The Department has also given us Option #2.
#2 would allow for performing a procedure if test results have not been received in the requested time (6 days). This option CANNOT be used until the 6 day time frame has expired, remember that.
If you choose to utilize this option, there are several other things you need to do, including documentation.
See TESTING, p.7, i.
‘To proceed with the procedure as scheduled, provided the decision to proceed with the procedure as scheduled without a test result is based on a clinical assessment performed by a physician prior to surgery evaluating the risk involved if the patient is COVID positive during the procedure.’
‘The physician performing the assessment must note the rationale why awaiting the testing result is not necessary and it is appropriate to move forward with the procedure in the patient medical record’.
Thus it would seem appropriate that centers utilize a template akin to what is already being used (hopefully) for time sensitive cases, and retain it as part of the surgical chart.
Remember as well that in addition to the physician assessment and rationale for performing, you must treat the patient as if COVID POSITIVE.
This means following the IC guidelines of ED 20-016, which are found on page 9 h. ii.
You can only use option #2 if you do all of the above.
