CHEST's Cooperative Involvement Related to COVID-19

JUNE 2020

CHEST's Cooperative Involvement Related to COVID-19

CHEST has participated in a number of government agencies’ and professional societies’ actions in response to needs identified due to COVID-19. Ongoing activities include the following:

FDA Network of Experts: received a request from the counterterrorism and emergency coordination team for experts who are on the front lines caring for the most severe patients with COVID.

National Healthcare Preparedness Program: participated in national COVID-19 clinical rounds sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), in collaboration with the National Ebola and Special Pathogens Training and Education Centers (NETEC), and Project ECHO, to present teleECHO programs including 1) Critical Care: Lifesaving Treatment and Clinical Operations; 2) Emergency Department: Patient Care and Clinical Operations; and 3) EMS: Patient Care and Operations. These peer-to-peer learning networks were implemented so clinicians who have experience treating COVID-19 patients can share their challenges and successes with clinicians globally. Representatives from more than 15 relevant national professional organizations round out the panel of expert discussants. As of mid-April more than 7500 people from all 50 states and more than 30 countries participated in the sessions.

Participation in CMS Virtual Office: received requests from CMS to participate in their virtual office hours to allow clinicians to ask questions and clarify temporary actions by the agency.

Letter to Congress and the Administration on Production and Distribution of PPE and Life-saving Equipment: CHEST signed on to a letter on April 2 from the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (composed of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)) to the US Congress and the Trump administration imploring the Federal government to “take all available actions to accelerate the mass production and coordinated distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and life-saving equipment to healthcare facilities nationwide. This includes authorizing the full enactment of the Defense Production Act so American manufacturing and other businesses can be called upon to contribute vital resources.” The letter explained the need to protect healthcare workers and requested support and aggressive action to mitigate a devastating loss of lives and a negative long-term financial impact to our country.

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