Virginia College of Emergency Physicians – April 17, 2020
Recently, we began a project to produce intubation/aerosol boxes based on similar projects around the country and to make sure we provided one to every emergency department in Virginia. We’ve accomplished this and, along the way, had a few ICUs and anesthesiology departments ask for boxes as well. We have about 30 left and I wanted to reach out to your society first to see if you would like to purchase them for your members.
There’s more information on our website here: https://www.vacep.org/intubationbox
We started with a pre-constructed box but switched to a flat pack design that can more easily be shipped, stored, and cleaned. You can see that design in our how-to video on the page above.
The boxes are $180 each, which is just the cost of labor and materials to produce them. Neither VACEP nor the guys making the boxes are taking any profit, we just want to make these available for everyone that needs them.
If would like to purchase any of our remaining stock, we could drop them off at your office or another location around Richmond.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Mattes Marshall, MA, Executive Director, at 804.503.1865.
Resources for Small Businesses
Billing for Multi-Function Ventilators (HCPCS Code E0467) under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Otherwise
CMS recognizes that in these important times, in particular, beneficiaries, health care clinicians, suppliers, and manufacturers are looking for the broadest possible access to ventilators for their care needs. We are taking a number of steps to increase access to and remind suppliers about certain options available to them and beneficiaries regarding multi-function ventilators.
Effective immediately, CMS is suspending claims editing for multi-function ventilators when there are claims for separate devices in history that have not met their reasonable useful lifetime.
For more information on multi-function ventilators, see MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20012
Anesthesia Machines Needed
Colleagues,
VSA has been offered an opportunity to contribute to the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Anesthesiologists are in the perfect position to advise the government on the availability of anesthesia machines that could potentially be deployed as emergency ventilators in case they are needed. Following the example of other states, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) has advised us to compile a list of available anesthesia machines that could be relocated to areas of significant need should that situation arise. Like at my hospital, I am sure many of your ORs and ASCs are not currently being used for surgical cases. You may even have spare or older anesthesia machines in storage areas. If you are aware of anesthesia machines that could be temporarily mobilized to other locations, please respond to me by email Jeffrey.green@vcuhealth.org with the number of available machines and the contact information for the primary point of contact to supply to VDEM. I encourage you to help the VSA with this planning. This is a great opportunity to prepare for an eventuality that hopefully will be unnecessary to implement.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Green, MD
VSA President
Ventilation Resource Prediction Model by State
CLICK HERE
This database predicts ventilator peak need by state. It doesn’t have vent supply, but does have # available hospital beds and ICU beds. Ventilator availability can be estimated using #ICU beds, AGM availability can also be estimated by state.
Look at the different projections by state, and notice the differences in peak need dates and which states are projected to have deficits.
If you look at the timelines for peak need of ventilators, it is logical to conclude that most of the need will have to be met with existing devices.
ASA may be able to use this data to help state groups predict their need.
A Letter from MSV President, Dr. Clifford Deal, regarding Elective Procedures
CLICK HERE to view message.
COVID-19 Resources
In light of the State of Emergency as a result of the growing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, we have compiled targeted online resources focused on COVID-19 in Virginia.
Please visit the resources below for up-to-date information, and contact us with any questions or concerns related to the state government, public health and healthcare system.
RESOURCES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers in the wake of the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. CMS has released a Virtual Toolkit to help you stay up-to-date on CMS materials available on COVID-19.
For more information on COVID-19 visit:
Coronavirus.gov
USA.gov
This guidance, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 click here Coronavirus.gov. For information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.