ASPS working with Louisiana Governor's Office, FEMA to acquire PPE, ventilators for state COVID-19 needs
ASPS is actively working with the office of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and other temporary medical facilities in the state to treat the growing population of COVID-19 patients.
The Society is calling on Louisiana ASPS members who possess or have access to this needed equipment, specifically ventilators with Airway Pressure Release Ventilation functionality.
Delineating the location of ventilators outside of hospitals is the first urgent need. Hospitals are already facing ventilator shortages and ventilator manufacturing will not meet this need in time.
ASPS, on behalf of the Louisiana Governor's Office, is asking for Louisiana plastic surgeons to complete the online form at PlasticSurgery.org/COVID19-Supplies. Click the "Contribute Supplies - Surgeons" button.
The Governor's Office and FEMA plan to route available ventilators and PPE to Louisiana hospitals or other temporary state medical facilities in need. The members or contacts listed on the form will be contacted by FEMA to coordinate.
Although we recognize that ASPS members are willing to contribute to help do their part in providing assistance for this pandemic, the federal government has noted that it will provide appropriate compensation for this much-needed equipment.
The State of Louisiana and FEMA express their extreme appreciation for this concerted effort by plastic surgeons.
This is urgent, and the need is now. Please fill out the form as soon as possible. Feel free to pass this link to others, including non-plastic surgeons. Thank you!