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Dear NCANA members,
I hope this letter finds you well. As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation with changes occurring daily in NC and across the country. NCANA is committed to providing CRNAs timely information to help you stay safe and to continue to provide excellent care for your patients.
COVID-19 Pandemic Information
According to public health experts, the next two weeks will be extremely challenging for all of us across the country and in NC as the number of cases increases along with the increasing number of COVID-19 + patients being hospitalized. We know that the lack of PPE is a huge concern for CRNAs, and NCANA and NCNA have addressed this with Governor Roy Cooper and other state leaders. NCANA has created a survey to assess the availability of PPE in your areas as well as CRNA workforce changes. Please complete the survey HERE asap. We will use this information in our ongoing communications with Governor Cooper, NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) Secretary Mandy Cohen, and other state leaders.
According to Secretary Cohen, NC currently has 3,014 ventilators. Preliminary estimates for NC’s Hospital Capacity during this pandemic for NC can be found here. Other NCDHHS COVID-19 info is available here. In several areas across the United States, anesthesia machines are being converted to ICU ventilators for COVID-19 + patients. Some of you may be asked to do the same here in NC. Please see the following anesthesia machine conversion resources here.
Advocacy information
On March 27, NCANA sent a letter to Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen. The content can be viewed on the NCANA website here (member login required). On March 30, CMS waived physician supervision requirements for all APRNs caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients. Many NCANA members have asked questions regarding how this waiver affects CRNA practice in NC. The laws and regulations surrounding NC CRNA practice, billing, and practice models can be confusing. The Administrative Code that defines CRNA practice in NC and a document outlining what the CMS waiver means to NC CRNAs can be found here (member login required).
Join us on Wednesday, April 8, at 7 pm for a Virtual Town Hall meeting for a discussion of these topics and more. Register here. The session will be recorded and distributed to members.
In addition, NCANA and NCNA will be meeting with Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen on Thursday, April 9, 2020, at 5 pm. We have limited virtual seating, and members who would like to attend can do so by sending a request to [email protected]. You will receive the link to the meeting on Thursday morning. Please register by Wednesday, April 8, if you would like to participate.
Since we now find ourselves in an evolving and uncertain situation, and many of us are serving on the front lines of the pandemic, you may be experiencing depression and anxiety. The NCANA and AANA are committed to supporting CRNAs to deliver high-quality patient care while also maintaining their health and well-being safely. AANA’s COVID-19 Well-Being Resources are now available can be found here (no member login required).
Finally, on behalf of the NCANA Board of Directors, I want to thank you for all your hard work and dedication to your colleagues and patients.
Stay safe and well!
Linda Stone, DNP, CRNA NCANA President |