[MCOH-EH] Nontraditional Mask Use

[Nancy Clover]

ANNOUNCEMENT: Joint Commission Statement on Use of Face Masks Brought From Home

The Joint Commission supports allowing staff to bring their own standard face masks or respirators to wear at work when their healthcare organizations cannot routinely provide access to protective equipment that is commensurate with the risk to which they are exposed.  In taking this position, The Joint Commission recognizes:
1. Hospitals must conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) when these items are in short supply to protect staff who perform high-risk procedures. 2. The degree to which privately-owned masks and respirators will increase the protection of healthcare workers is uncertain, but the balance of evidence suggests that it is positive. 3. No Joint Commission standards or other requirements prohibit staff from using PPE brought from home. 4. Homemade masks are an extreme measure and should be used only when standard PPE of proven protective value is unavailable.
The evidence assessment and policy analysis that is the foundation of this statement on this link:

https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/resources/patient-safety-topics/infection-prevention-and-hai/covid19/public_statement_on_masks_from_home.pdf

Be well,
Nancy Clover RN, COHN-S, FAAOHN
Occupational Health Connections
PO Box 2106   Methuen, MA 01844
Tel:  978-686-9739
Fax: 978-258-2682
Nancy at OccHealthConnections.com
www.OccHealthConnections.com


[cid:image001.jpg at 01D609D5.4EBCFA20]Save Trees |[cid:image002.jpg at 01D609D5.4EBCFA20]Save Paper| [cid:image003.jpg at 01D609D5.4EBCFA20] Recycle Always | [cid:image004.jpg at 01D609D5.4EBCFA20]  Switch Off As You Go |[cid:image005.jpg at 01D609D5.4EBCFA20]Go Green
Please don't print this e-mail unless needed!



From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+nancy=occhealthconnections.com at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Galaid Edward I
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 2:37 PM
To: Occ-Env-Med-L at listserv.unc.edu; mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Nontraditional Mask Use

Cross posted to OEM-L and MCOH...4 Questions...

Are you using non-traditional masks;
Do you provide direction as to how they are use;
What they should be made of;
How they should be laundered or inspected for continued use or disposal/disinfection?

Thanks. Will share results.

Ed

Edward I. Galaid, MD, MPH, FACOEM
ABIM, ABPM (OM)
Medical Director, Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Occupational Medicine
Charleston, SC
Member, ACOEM Task Group,  Guidance for the Medical Evaluation of Law Enforcement Officers
Special Expert, NFPA Fire Service Occupational Safety & Health (FIX-AAA) Committee
(O) 843-402-5053


________________________________

Our Mission: Healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including
any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended
recipients and may contain confidential and/or legally
privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message. Any
unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is
prohibited. Thank you.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 773 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 753 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 710 bytes
Desc: image003.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 729 bytes
Desc: image004.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 753 bytes
Desc: image005.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/attachments/20200403/2fcaba4b/attachment-0004.jpg>