On April 22 we had a pipe elbow failure in our Emergency Department (ED) causing a significant water leak. Crews are assessing the impact and we are in the process of water abatement. Our ED is open, but several rooms are currently offline which could increase wait times. Some surgeries are also being rescheduled.
Respiratory Protection (Temporary Airborne Precautions) Required during AGPs on Asymptomatic Patients Awaiting COVID Results
Clarification about Airborne Precautions
There have been several questions regarding the need for airborne precautions when performing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) on asymptomatic patients who are awaiting a pending clearance test. VMC is clarifying that any aerosol-generating procedures performed on patients awaiting a pending clearance test (asymptomatic) should be performed under Temporary Airborne Precautions (with respiratory protection), unless/until the patient has a negative COVID test and no other respiratory-transmissible infections.
There has also been some confusion regarding how to communicate that a patient is on temporary Airborne Precautions due to an aerosol-generating procedure. Infection Prevention is introducing the sign below which should be mounted on a patient room door and filled in to indicate when the room ventilation is complete post-procedure, so that others entering the room are aware that respiratory protection is required in the interim.
This chart summarizes these changes:
