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03/23/2020
CASA ASC COVID-19 Resources 3.23.2020
Need ASCs to complete inventory survey as soon as possible
CASA COVID-19 Resources - 3.23.2020
The updates and response to COVID-19 rapidly change each day. As you are responding to the needs of your patients, ASC and community, we are working to provide you with resources to assist you in navigating the pandemic response.
As we begin the week, we realize you are struggling with operations outside of normal, evolving patient care, and a great deal of uncertainty. Your ASC services have decreased significantly as you implement elective vs urgent elective surgery triage, and some of you have closed altogether.
Many of you are working with your local hospitals and incident command on the COVID-19 response. There are outstanding questions regarding inventory, providing alternative services, economic concerns, etc. CASA is working collaboratively with the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), California Medical Association and other stakeholders on appropriate responses. There are many communications happening with regulators, legislators, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and others on the issues effecting ASCs and the ASC COVID-19 surge response. We will continue to keep you informed as the guidelines and rules evolve.
If you have concerns on impacts to your ASC or questions regarding your response, please reach out to CASA Executive Director, Beth LaBouyer at blabouyer@casurgery.org. We encourage you to visit the links highlighted in the communications below to receive the latest information and resources available.
If you have not yet participated in the ASC survey listed below, please do so as soon as possible. The survey is quick and will be extremely helpful in identifying our ASC response capacity. We've also provided important information from Medline Renewal on mask reprocessing.
ASC Survey - Please fill this out if you have not done so already
As California enters the next phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, the California Medical Association (CMA) and California Ambulatory Surgery Association (CASA) are urging physicians, health care administrators and policy makers to urgently redeploy resources to meet the coming increase in demand for health care services.
CASA and CMA are working to take inventory of ventilation equipment that may be able to be redeployed to hospitals and other facilities dealing with COVID-19 patients. We are also asking centers to offer an inventory of their personal protection equipment, such as masks and gowns, that may also be redeployed in the short term. Finally, we are asking for a census of additional personnel and capacity that may be available through centers.
To help with this rapid inventory assessment, we are asking all of our members to complete the survey as soon as possible.
CASA/CMA Press Release
ASC Inventory Survey
If you have questions, or are having difficulty opening the survey, please reach out to CASA Executive Director Beth LaBouyer at blabouyer@casurgery.org or 530.790.7990. We are finding some browsers or IT security are not allowing access to the survey.
If you haven't been contacted already by your local hospital or local emergency response coordinator, you should reach out regarding your ASC's number of anesthesia machines and the ability to provide temporary emergency ventilation, and the capacity to provide services not typically provided in the ASC environment, This information will be vital, particularly for counties with large outbreaks or limited resources.
Additional Updates
The State of California has launched a New Comprehensive, Consumer-Friendly Website and Public Service Announcements to Boost COVID-19 Awareness.
CASA & ASCA Consensus response on COVID-19
ASC Covid-19 Action Plan
All ASCs should adopt the following:
- It is imperative that all ASCs are coordinating with their local department of public health. This will assure you receive the latest information and recommendations in your area.
- Implement CDC guidance and stay up to date by visiting these critical websites.
- Implement rigorous screening for patients and visitors prior to entering the facility.
- Maintain a safe environment for patients, employees and visitors, including adherence to social distancing recommendations.
- Implement enhanced cleaning as directed by CDC guidelines.
- As hospitals are implementing their disaster operations, ASCs should be responding likewise and coordinating their plan in conjunction with their local emergency medical response. If you need guidance with policies and a comprehensive emergency plan see the resources listed below.
- As you implement your emergency plan, your governing body should work together to address a policy on prioritizing elective vs urgent elective surgical procedures.
- Follow the guidance from recognized bodies in determining elective vs elective/urgent surgical procedures.
- American College of Surgeons COVID-19: Guidance for Triage of Non-Emergent Surgical Procedures
- CMS Adult Elective Surgery and Procedure Recommendations
- Joint GI society message: COVID-19 clinical insights for our community of gastroenterologists and gastroenterology care providers
- California Society of Anesthesiologists
- American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendations for urgent vs. non-urgent care
- ASCA COVID-19: Guidance for ASCs on Necessary Surgeries
- Assessing and optimizing patients’ medical and social risk factors for planned surgeries, and postponing cases where indicated.
- Follow the guidance from recognized bodies in determining elective vs elective/urgent surgical procedures.
Additional Tools and Consideration
Signs and Posters
- COVID-19 Precautions Poster 1
- COVID-19 Precautions Poster 2
- Stop the Spread of Germs
- Share the Facts
- CDC Cover Your Cough
- How To Hand Wash Poster
Economic Issues
- SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Corona Virus
- SBA COVID-19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
- Reduced Work Hours / Unemployment
- CA Chamber Corona Virus Resource Page
- SBA Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet for Businesses