COVID-19 GGH Update April 12
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you’re within the hospital)
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Action/must read (3)
What’s New? (0)
Resources and Supplies (0)
Staff Support (1)
Policy Changes (0)
Notes & Comments (0)
Starting with the positive…
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients*
*numbers last updated Thursday, April 9
| Total number of staff tested to date | 179 |
| Total number of staff with a positive test result to date | 25 |
| Total number of staff with a negative test result to date | 135 |
| Total number of results pending | 19 |
| Number of current in-patients who have tested positive | 7 |
Action/Must read
Preparing to reprocess masks
Ontario Health has put out a very clear message to hospitals. The message explained that conservation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key part of our work to ensure we can protect all our healthcare workers. Ontario Health stated that evidence supports that there are various methods of retaining, sterilizing, reprocessing and reusing PPE, including N95 masks. Ontario Health is working with various partners throughout our system to determine the best approach to implement these conservation methods and is exploring advanced technologies to achieve safe reprocessing of masks.
To support this work, Ontario Health recommends all organizations refrain from disposing of N95 masks and surgical masks and to store the masks for potential reprocessing. At GGH, we are following this recommendation so that we are ready to respond if and when the safe reprocessing process is available.
We are doing our part to contribute to PPE conservation so a reminder; at the end of your shift, if your mask is not visibly soiled* or contaminated, place in a biohazard or Ziploc bag. Label the bag (not the mask) with your first and last name, date, and unit. Place in the designated area on your unit. If you are not sure where this location is, ask your Resource Nurse, Manager, or Director.
*Visible soiling includes makeup because the mask will be difficult to sterilize.
PPE conservation:
Although not our usual practice, procedure masks and N95’s (even if used for an Aerosol-Generating Medical Procedure) can be used with multiple patients and tasks unless visibly soiled or damaged.
Recommendation: use the face shield to preserve the life of your mask
- Wear each procedure mask as long as possible. This includes going in and out of droplet precaution rooms (note, this is a HUGE change).
- Minimize the amount of times you are taking off your mask.
- When taking a procedure mask off for future use, handle the masks by the straps. Carefully takeoff the mask and place it on a clean surface (eg. blue pad or paper towel) or in a paper bag.
- Bundle care tasks where possible and limit the number of staff in the room to conserve PPE
CEO’s weekly message – conserving PPE the new normal
Detailed explanation about when to use PPE and what kind
Our Infectious Disease specialist, Dr. James Murdoch, has researched best practices as of the current date.Please use his advice when choosing your mask. If you waste PPE now, you may be without it in the near future. For Dr. Murdoch’s detailed information, please click here.
What’s new?
Resources and Supplies
Staff Support
Just a reminder that OD has updated an extensive list of resources to support your emotional, psychological and mental health.