Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANGELICA M. JIMENEZ
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Encourages licensed hospitals Statewide to construct pre-triage tents outside of their buildings.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution encouraging hospitals to construct pre-triage tents outside of their buildings.
Whereas, A major epidemic or pandemic can overwhelm the capacity of outpatient facilities, emergency departments (EDs), hospitals, and intensive care units, leading to critical shortages of staff, space, and supplies, and increased risk to health care providers with serious implications for patient outcomes; and
Whereas, Hospitals and public health agencies in the United States should be practicing scarcity scenarios related to the Covid-19 virus. Although many states have formal crisis standards of care plans, few hospitals have practiced implementing them. And though most clinicians are familiar with the concept of triage, few have ever had to implement it; and
Whereas, Currently, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires airborne isolation for testing; and
Whereas, In light of the CDC guidelines, hospitals and public health agencies should implement plans for the diversion of non-critical, possible COVID-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses at a triage point prior to a patient’s entry at an ED, hospital, or other health care facility; and
Whereas, Pre-triage tents are meant as an outdoor place to handle surge capacity, screen and treat patients without risking the spread of the COVID-19 virus and other airborne pathogens, rapidly evaluate, identify, isolate, and treat those with suspected COVID-19, screen and discharge minor cases to prevent congestion at hospitals and other health care facilities, and to limit the risk to the health care providers evaluating patients; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges all licensed hospitals in the State of New Jersey to construct pre-triage tents outside their buildings in order to handle surge capacity, screen and treat patients without risking the spread of the COVID-19 virus and other airborne pathogens, rapidly evaluate, identify, isolate, and treat those with suspected COVID-19, screen and discharge minor cases to prevent congestion at hospitals, and to limit the risk to the health care providers evaluating patients.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly, to every licensed hospital in the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges all licensed hospitals in the State of New Jersey to construct pre-triage tents outside their buildings in order to handle surge capacity, screen and treat patients without risking the spread of the COVID-19 virus and other airborne pathogens, rapidly evaluate, identify, isolate, and treat those with suspected COVID-19, screen and discharge minor cases to prevent congestion at hospitals, and to limit the risk to the health care providers evaluating patients.