November FY21

[kristenhorsman]

The November journal article is presented by Belinda Gardner and summarizes the findings of a study that explored the seroprevalence of Covid-19 in 13 academic medical centers, including Johns Hopkins. Some of our own colleagues in ACCM participated in this study. Please refer to the following attachment Seroprevalence of Cov2.pdf (477.55 KB)

Please respond to these 2 questions:

1.) Did you find this article regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among front-line health care professionals informative? Why or why not? If you took part in this study as a redeployed CRNA, are you surprised at the results?



2.) Will you change your personal practice regarding your use of PPE after reading this article? If so how? Do you think our current processes are adequate to protect anesthesia providers or should they be different?

[Anne McNulty CRNA]

This article informed us of information that we are already very aware. Many frontline HCP are positive and symptom free! There are four study limitations listed in the discussion area. How each facility practiced infection control is unknown . I will not change my PPE practice after reading this. There is too much information that is still unknown. I think JHUs current processes ake it difficult to obtain a new N-95 mask. Each area should have a supply. Going to Bloomberg 6th floor is frequently not possible to do.

[dahliarouchon]

I agree with Ms. McNulty's response to the article on seroprevalence of COVID-19 SARS 2 virus in HCPs:
1. The article spoke to knowledge that COVID 19 is airborne (which was denied to be droplet only for a long period in public discourse)
It spreads without symptoms making it highly contagious (however HCPs could not get testing until symptoms were displayed and only if they visited either China or other eastern Asian countries). HCPs not wearing masks are at increased risk of exposure and transmission to others while eating in breakrooms, changing clothes in locker rooms or anytime not wearing a mask. I was redeployed but did not participate in the study.
2. My practice will not change in PPE use other than using gowns for aerosolizing procedures.
3. Current practices are adequate if the supply of unused fresh N95s that correctly fit are on clinical units, PAPRs supplies are available with cleaning wipes for PAPRs are readily present, in addition to shields and gowns being accessible.
4. I would encourage greater information sharing on alternate break rooms for all surgical locations for staff to safely eat as well as discourage potluck gatherings and parties with communal sharing of food and utensils.

[clawry]

1.) Did you find this article regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among front-line health care professionals informative? Why or why not? If you took part in this study as a redeployed CRNA, are you surprised at the results?


I thought that this article was informative. I was in a covid ICU for 3 months so I found this article to be very interesting. I did not take part in the study. I am not that surprised at the results because those of us working in high risk areas such as covid ICU and RT were hypervigilant with our PPE and decontaminating at the end of the shift. I felt that we were most protected from the virus at work and more likely to become infected in the community at the grocery store!






2.) Will you change your personal practice regarding your use of PPE after reading this article? If so how? Do you think our current processes are adequate to protect anesthesia providers or should they be different?

I think that we are doing a good job in our anesthesia department wearing the appropriate PPE. N95/PAPR, face shield, gowns, and double gloving for high risk procedures such as intubation and extubation. I will continue to follow the current guidelines for PPE. I do wish that the PPE specifically N 95 masks and PAPRs were easier to obtain. It is extremely inconvenient to have to pick masks up from the 6th floor of the hospital when working in outpatient areas. I believe that each control center should have a stock of masks. PAPRs are very hard to come by as well unless working in the covid ICU. 

[kels]

I also agree that this article was interesting, had study limitations and did provide information that was already known. I did not participate in the study but was redeployed . I will continue with my PPE practice . I also agree that getting an N95 is not convenient . I was surprised when COVID first came out that not once was my temperature taken when walking into work but friends of mine who are not hospital employees talked about getting temperature checks everyday . I see signs around the locker rooms about social distancing however recently I have noticed folks eating at the same table together. I don't blame these folks since having a place to eat when one has a limited break time can be a challenge however these folks are not " following the rules" .

[aileenm4]

I thought the article was informative because the results being that HC workers were similarb in COVID rates as the generalpublic.  We must be doing something right.

I participated in the study, I did noyt feel like I had Covid S/S so whn my anitbodies were negative I was not surprised

I feel that we have PPE, we have the abilityu to change them frequently, I like the reusable gowna but the are bulky and long and cumbersome to work in. but better than throwing away gowns in the trash. 

[Ben Waldbaum]

I find it informative, but not surprising. Healthcare providers can be vectors of the disease. Personally, I think because of the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers, the only way we can really be confident we aren't infecting each other or the patients is to take multiple COVID tests weekly. Regarding PPE, I don't know how I could be any more careful. I wish they'd make the N95s easier to get as it is most of the time impractical to go to Bloomberg 6.

[Shannon Segres Yorkman]

I found that the article shared a lot of what we already know. However, strongly believe that we don't know "enough" about Covid-19. I agree with Ben in that the only way to truly know if we have an increased risk to infect out patients is to test healthcare workers frequently. I find it fascinating that professional athletes can be tested weekly or multiple times per weekly, however professionals that actually work with Covid positive patients are not being tested. The article really doesn't change much for me in my practice. I wear my Draeger 95% of the time when I am in the hospital. I find it interesting that given this resurgence and our increased likelihood of being vectors that we encouraged to not wear our Draegers or PAPRs in "public areas" of the hospital. Seems to me that the public area are the most "dangerous" because people have it and don't know they have it.

[Soo-Ok Kim]

1.) Did you find this article regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among front-line health care professionals informative? Why or why not? If you took part in this study as a redeployed CRNA, are you surprised at the results?
-It was informative to reinforce the importance of PPE use including face covering. I participate in the study and am not surprised at the result.


2.) Will you change your personal practice regarding your use of PPE after reading this article? If so how? Do you think our current processes are adequate to protect anesthesia providers or should they be different?
As fair amount of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 HCPs was identified only by serology test, the prudent way to control workplace infection is to test HCPs regularly. Current practice in PPE use can be kept with strict guideline. I just hope they are easily accessible ;especially gowns and N95 mask.

[LarSharVeA Bailey]

At this stage, the article is a reiteration of what we already know. Thus, factoring in the time that it is received, it is not particularly helpful. Many of us, globally, are faced with covid fatique now. I am not making modifications per se, rather I am internally encouraging myself to remain vigilant and stay the course with donning PPE and social distancing.

[Jennifer Hannon]

I thought the article was informative, but not really surprising, as I have kept up with news and research reports. I t a little comfort to know that healthcare workers were similar in COVID rates as the general public.

I participated in the study, because I was facilitator and intubating in Feb/March before my cardiologist called me with a warning. He's the best!

I feel that now that we have more PPE, we can change them more often. I don't like the pink reusable gowns because they feel like a boat canvas I had to cover the bow with as my chore.

[Jennifer Pease moreno]

The article was informative, but reinforced what we already know.

I will not change my PPE practice. I find it difficult to obtain N-(5 mask, especially at outpatient centers. There is not adequate space to eat lunch while social distancing.

[kelseyleonard]

1.) Did you find this article regarding the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among front-line health care professionals informative? Why or why not? If you took part in this study as a redeployed CRNA, are you surprised at the results?

I agree with most that the article was very detailed and informative but did not highlight much that we do not already know. Yes, healthcare workers can be vecotors but I think that may be more to do with being asymptomatic.





2.) Will you change your personal practice regarding your use of PPE after reading this article? If so how? Do you think our current processes are adequate to protect anesthesia providers or should they be different?

I don't necessarily plan to change my personal practice. I wear my N95 all the time while in the hospital. It would be helpful if we had easiler access to new PPE. Walking to Bloomberg 6 is very out of the way and I often find I have to delay getting a new mask because I run out of time or am stuck in the OR.

[Katya Podin]

1. I agree with above remarks that article is informative but it reinforces what we already know.
2. I will not change my PPE practice. I think what ever we do is appropriate. And we could do better if department provided at least one PAPER hood to each anesthesia provider. Many nurses that work in OR have personal hoods but not anesthesia providers. I bought my own hood but now many areas have new devices that are not compatible with old hoods and it is frustrating. It is not always convenient to exchange N95 due to location.

[Jessica Hadley]

1. Yes, I thought this article was informative. It definitely supports the evidence that someone can be COVID positive and asymptomatic. I participated in this study and was actually surprised my result.

2. I do not believe I will change my current PPE practice. The article does help reinforce the belief that our PPE works when used properly. I do wish that N95's were more easily obtained especially for those of us who aren't always working downtown. Also I agree that finding a PAPR is more challenging in the OR than it was working on the unit.