We were following the re-use protocol; however, it was discontinued probably a month ago. They are changing daily or more, if needed.
Katie
From: medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Kim Fleischfresser
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 8:30 AM
To: Rebekah Mattocks <Rebekah.Mattocks@knutenelson.org>; 'medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org' <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
Subject: RE: FDA Mask Recommendations
We are using one surgical mask per visit & n95 only for presumed or confirmed covid. We also follow MDH guidance so even when the CDC changes policies we wait until MDH changes their guidance.
From:
medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
On Behalf Of Rebekah Mattocks
Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 7:57 AM
To: 'medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org' <medicarewkgp@list.mnhomecare.org>
Subject: FDA Mask Recommendations
Here is an article in regards to FDA recommendations for N95 reuse.
We are using the N95s as indicated for confirmed/positive COVID and the surgical/procedural masks for all other visits. Are your agencies doing 1 surgical/procedural mask per visit, or are you operating on a reuse
policy for those? Just wondering as I work on these policies this week
😊
FDA says it’s time to move away from mask reuse
·
Print
N95 medical mask
The U.S. now has a solid supply of respirators, and healthcare facilities can begin to transition from decontaminating and reusing disposable masks, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Emergency use approval for disposable masks has not been revoked, the agency added in a
letter to healthcare personnel and facilities on April 9. All respirators approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, including N95 respirators, single-use respirators and those designed to be reusable remain authorized
for use on a continuing basis during the public health emergency.
But the agency now is encouraging limited use only, preferably when no other options are available.
Among the new FDA recommendations:
·
Decontaminated respirators and respirators that have undergone bioburden reduction should be used only when there are insufficient supplies of new filtering
facepiece respirators or when new respirators are not obtainable.
·
Facilities should transition away from a crisis-capacity strategy for respirators, such as decontamination of N95 and other filtering facepiece respirators.
·
Facility operators should attempt to increase their inventories of available NIOSH-approved respirators, including N95s and other filtering facepiece
respirators, elastomeric respirators, and powered air-purifying respirators, to be used under guidelines
from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“Even if you are unable to obtain the respirator model that you would prefer, the FDA recommends that you obtain and use a new respirator before decontaminating or bioburden reducing
a preferred disposable respirator,” the agency stated.
The agency also has updated
its strategies for optimizing the supply of N95 masks.
More than 600 filtering facepiece respirators models have been approved for emergency use during the pandemic, of which there are over 530 N95 FFR models, according to the FDA.
REBEKAH MATTOCKS, BSN, RN
Director of Clinical Quality & Compliance for Home Care and Hospice
2715 Highway 29 South Suite 103, Alexandria, MN, 56308
Cell: 320-333-4236
knutenelson.org
| Nonprofit Senior Lifestyle Provider
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