MARLTON, N.J. (CBS) Health care providers in New Jersey are concerned about supplies and the pace of COVID-19 testing. Hospitals have a responsibility to help sick people and government officials have a responsibility to help health care systems.<\/p>\n
To take a swab and take a test but not get results doesnt do anybody any good, New Jersey Congressman Donald Norcross said.<\/p>\n
Norcross heard the concerns of health care providers Tuesday as he met with officials of Virtua Health.<\/p>\n
Among their main concerns was the slow turnaround for getting COVID-19 test results. So far, theyve done more than 200 tests across their system and only received about 5% of the results.<\/p>\n
Were still nowhere close to where we need to be to make sure that every person that needs a test can get one. Were ramping it up very quickly but were still not there, Norcross said.<\/p>\n
Virtua says right now it takes a minimum of four days and sometimes more than a week to get coronavirus test results, which leads to the next problem personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff.<\/p>\n
Treating every sick person as a possible COVID-19 case is causing hospitals to unnecessarily burn through PPEs.<\/p>\n
That includes a gown, a mask, a face shield, gloves and as long was dont know that person has COVD-19 or not, we have to assume the patient does and so it makes us burn through a lot of the PPE, said Reg Blaber, chief clinical officer and vice president at Virtua Health.<\/p>\n
And a shortage of protective equipment could lead to slower and possibly less effective care for sick people if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n
We have a national strategic supply but the fact of the matter is, its not being distributed yet and we need to make sure that its there as this ramps up, Norcross said.<\/p>\n
Norcross has also spoken with officials at senior living facilities, who are taking care of some of those most vulnerable to coronavirus.<\/p>\n
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Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Coronavirus In New Jersey: Health Care Providers Concerned About Supplies, Pace Of COVID-19 Testing - CBS Philly<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MARLTON, N.J. Continue reading