COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CARE
Face Masks for Healthcare Professionals
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CDC Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment
CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Face Masks
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Understanding Mask Usage for Physicians
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Adam Rudd, Chief Executive Officer, Largo Medical Center
Dear Caregivers,
HCA Healthcare’s priority is to protect our frontline clinicians and caregivers so they are able to continue to care for our patients and community during this unparalleled crisis.One thing that we know about COVID-19 is that the virus is spread by droplets. At this time, the virus doesn’t appear to float in the air like pollen. It attaches itself to fluid like mucus. So preventing the spread of COVID-19 means stopping the spread of droplets – by washing hands, cleaning surfaces, and protecting faces.
That’s where masks come in. Masks are used as a BARRIER against droplets, notas a FILTER for the air. That’s good news. Because it is a lot easier to clean and disinfect a barrier than it is to change an air filter. It means that masks can be used longer to keep our caregivers safer.
We want to make sure that every caregiver has the right mask at the right time. That’s why we stock three different types of masks. Different masks are used in different situations.
We’ve all become familiar with the acronym PPE, for Personal Protective Equipment. But this acronym can also be used to describe the appropriate situations for various levels of masks.
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We use masks for PRECAUTION when working with caregivers and patients,
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For PROTECTION from possible cases of COVID-19, and
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For cases when EXPOSURE to COVID-19 droplets is highly likely.
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LEVEL 1 MASKS: FOR PRECAUTION
When a caregiver is exposed, we ask that caregiver to use a level 1 mask for the next 14 days in order to be certain that he or she does not become ill while working with patients and caregivers. We only allow this if the caregiver is completely asymptomatic (no fever, no symptoms of any illness). Being that the caregiver is asymptomatic, he or she is not coughing and therefore, not creating droplets that could spread COVID-19. We ask that person to wear the level 1 mask AS A PRECAUTION out of an abundance of caution. Remember, this mask is not to protect the caregiver, it’s used to protect the public. This is a picture of a level 1 mask, note that it is yellow in color.
LEVEL 3 MASKS: FOR PROTECTION
When a caregiver is treating a patient who has, or is being evaluated for COVID-19, we ask that caregiver to use a level 3 mask. This mask is used to PROTECT FROM FLUIDS AND DROPLETS, and when used with eye protection, significantly protects the caregiver from becoming contaminated with the virus. This is a picture of a level 3 mask, note that it is blue in color.
N95 RESPIRATORS: FOR EXPOSURE
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When a caregiver is caring for a patient who has, or is being evaluated for COVID-19, and WILL BE EXPOSED to aerosolized droplets (droplets created by nebulizer treatments, intubation, bronchoscopy or other specific procedures and expelled by force), we ask that caregiver to use an N-95 mask (also known as an N-95 respirator). This is a picture of an N-95 mask.
By using the correct mask for the correct patient, we can assure our caregivers that our supplies of masks and other PPE will be there when we need them.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for all you do every day for Largo Medical Center and the patients we are privileged to serve.
Adam Rudd
Chief Executive Officer
Largo Medical Center
(727) 588-5250
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(The above contents were distributed by Kremer Tiffany)