COVID-19 PPE Framework in Healthcare Facilities – De-escalation

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

We have recently been asked by our Executive to review the current minimal PPE framework that was introduced to our hospitals / aged care facilities as part of COVID-19 response.

Any patient with suspected / confirmed COVID is managed under combination contact / airborne precautions with N95, Protective eyewear, Gown and Gloves being worn In addition to this we have the following levels of routine PPE usage depending on the location staff work in.

* Dedicated COVID Ward – Staff routinely wear N95, Protective eyewear, Gown and Gloves
* All other clinical areas (acute / sub-acute / aged care) – Staff routinely wear N95 and Protective Eyewear
* All Non-clinical areas within the hospital – Staff routinely wear a surgical mask
* Office / Administration functions in campuses outside the healthcare facility – No PPE required

I would like to know what other healthcare facilities are doing in relation to PPE specifically:

1. Do you have a minimal PPE framework, if so what is it?
2. If you have a minimal PPE framework what risk assessment has been used to develop it?
3. Have you de-escalated your routine PPE use e.g. from N95 to Surgical Mask, protective eyewear to no protective eyewear?
4. If you have de-escalated routine PPE use what has the impact been on COVID transmission events in your Facility?
5. If you have de-escalated routine PPE use what has the impact been on staff morale ? – Do staff continue to wear a higher level of PPE?

If you have any specific references / research you have used to support your decisions I would be keen to see them.

Kind regards,

Fiona De Sousa CICP-E| Nurse Manager | Infection Prevention & Control Unit
Launceston General Hospital, Level 2, Launceston TAS 7250
phone: 6777 6715 | mobile: 0408 487 197 | fax: 6777 5170 | email: fiona.de.sousa@ths.tas.gov.au |
intranet: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/intranet/thon/infection_control

VISION – ‘By working together we promote a culture of safety to reduce preventable infections and transmission of multi-resistant organisms’

COVID-19 Contact Tracing: covidtracing.north@ths.tas.gov.au | https://forms.office.com/r/pTeJipm7vJ

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