PPE Crisis Standards of Care

The Colorado Hospital Association, the Colorado Medical Society and the other undersigned medical societies applaud the work of physicians, nurses, other health care providers, hospital staff and administrators for their tireless work in the ongoing response to the COVID pandemic. The dedication to caring for patients that they have shown is an embodiment of the health care system that Colorado aspires to always have. While they do it willingly, sometimes providing that care puts health care professionals in harm’s way. Protecting those that are providing lifesaving and health-preserving care is essential for ensuring that all Coloradans can access the care they need when they need it.

We are releasing this statement to emphasize our shared commitment to protecting physicians and other health care providers and workers, and to recognize the crisis standards of care plan that Gov. Polis implemented on April 6, 2020. As the governor and other public health officials have repeatedly noted, the implementation of this plan is a direct response to the extreme situation currently facing Colorado.

We specifically want to highlight the personal protective equipment (PPE) standards of that plan that explicitly recognize that providers may have to change their practices in order to ensure their own safety. We fully support the use of these standards as a way for communities of care to guide their efforts to preserve scarce PPE, protect health care providers, and care for patients.

The current stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Colorado has strained the health care system in ways that were unthinkable just months ago. Responding to those challenges has required some difficult decisions, innovation and resilience. Future efforts will require unified action, discipline and flexibility which the PPE standards encompass. We encourage the careful review and thoughtful use of these crisis standards by physicians, nurses, other health care providers, and administrative leaders. We look forward to the day when these standards can be deactivated and Coloradans and those that care for them can resume their regular activities.

Joint Statement By:
Colorado Hospital Association
Colorado Medical Society
American College of Cardiology, Colorado Chapter
American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Colorado Chapter
Arapahoe-Douglas-Elbert Medical Society
Aurora-Adams Medical Society
Colorado Allergy and Asthma Society
Colorado Orthopaedic Society
Colorado Pain Society
Colorado Society for Endocrinology and Metabolism
El Paso County Medical Society
Foothills Medical Society
Northern Colorado Medical Society

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