Emergency Update to Statewide Treatment Protocols - IFT Transfer Guidelines (Ventilators)

Airmen,_Soldiers_team_up_during_dust-off,_medevac_140212-F-FM358-151.jpg
 
 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

continues to work with state, federal and local partners on the outbreak of novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, and we continue to appreciate the essential role you have in responding to this evolving situation. 

 

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, OEMS is releasing the following document:

 

  • An emergency Statewide Treatment Protocol change to the inter-facility transfer (IFT) ventilation protocol, allowing for use of bag-valve-mask ventilation for transport of a ventilator dependent patient, if a transport ventilator is not available due to the COVID-19 emergency.  If appropriate, the BVM should have a HEPA filter attached.

  • The 20 minute transition and observation requirement (to wait for stability on the transport vent) for stable patients has been removed for the duration of the emergency

 

The intent of this change is both to allow transport of such patients if not enough transport ventilators are available but transport is necessary, and to allow ambulance services to lend their ventilators to hospital as needed and desired.  Ambulance services need to begin working through implementation issues and training needs before putting these changes in place. Please work with your affiliate hospital medical director and ensure all your EMS personnel are appropriately trained on the use of this Protocol, prior to implementing.

 

This emergency protocol applies to all patients.  This protocol will only be in effect through the Governor’s declared State of Emergency.

 

For any questions about the Protocol, please contact Brendan Murphy at brendan.p.murphy@state.ma.us.

 

The DPH COVID-19 website, which is updated on a daily basis, can be accessed at www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.