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TO:
Chief Executive Officers, THA Member Hospitals/Health Systems
Hospital Government Relations Contacts
SUBJECT: Hospital response needed by Monday on availability of disposable N95 respirators
BACKGROUND: The Texas Department of State Health Services is keenly aware of the difficulties hospitals face in complying with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s/Occupational Health & Safety Administration’s guidelines regarding use of disposable N95 respirators (“N95 masks”) when treating influenza patients. TDSHS is considering making a determination of a statewide N95 mask/respirator shortage.
To do so, TDSHS needs to document the broad picture of the N95 supply situation in Texas. TDSHS has asked THA to contact members and request their response to the brief question below. If the state declares that an N95 shortage exists, hospitals will have supportive documentation for justifying non-compliance with CDC/OSHA guidelines. In addition, TDSHS also will be able to access federal supplies of personal protective equipment, which may help mitigate critical shortages.
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Question: (Click on the "Reply" button at the top of this e-mail and insert your answers below)
Is your current supply of N95 masks and your supply/distribution chain for obtaining more of them sufficient to support using N95 masks according to current CDC guidelines, without prioritized respirator use?
___ Yes ____No
Hospital Name: ______________________________________________________________
Contact name and telephone number: ________________________________________________
Hospital County(ies)__________________________________________________________
Please respond to this e-mail no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26.
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The updated CDC guidelines still require extensive use of N95 masks/respirators. However, in these guidelines, CDC recognizes that there may be shortages of N95 masks/respirators. If a shortage of N95s exists, the CDC guidelines allow health care facilities to move to a “prioritized respirator use” mode. Facilities then may prioritize the use of N95 masks/respirators to higher risk situations such as aerosol generating procedures, higher risk staff and other special circumstances. Per OSHA, they must demonstrate a “good faith effort” to obtain added supplies of N95 respirators/masks.
TDSHS is developing plans and processes for allocation and distribution of federal supplies which may become available. TDSHS is in preliminary discussions with Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) regarding distribution options.
According to Texas Government Code 305.027, portions of this material may be considered “legislative advertising.” Authorization for its publication is made by John Hawkins, Texas Hospital Association, P.O. Box 679010, Austin, TX 78767.
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