AIR & SURFACE TRANSPORT NURSES ASSOCIATION UPDATES POSITION STATEMENT EMPHASIZING SAFETY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTING PATIENTS WITH SERIOUS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES TO INCLUDE COVID-19

NEWS FROM THE AIR & SURFACE TRANSPORT NURSES ASSOCIATION:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aurora, Colorado (March 10, 2020). The Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) recently updated a statement emphasizing safety issues and best practices for critical care transport providers who are called upon to transport patients with serious communicable diseases to include a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The statement outlines a hierarchy of guidelines based on best infection control practices delineated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. “ASTNA strongly believes that a standardized method to caring for any patient with a potential or actual highly infectious disease is crucial to eliminate the possibility of transmission to the health care provider or other patients. ASTNA believes that these procedures should be followed the same way on every contact with the source patient. We encourage transport providers to seek direction from their individual programs and utilize resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health departments,” states ASTNA President Josh Wall, PhD, RN, CEN, CFRN.

Critical care transport professionals are likely to be at added risk for exposure to serious communicable diseases due to factors such as environmental conditions and interventions performed during transport, which prompted development of the original statement which will be continually updated as major serious communicable diseases are presented. According to ASTNA Publications Committee Chair Allen Wolfe Jr., MSN, RN, CNS, CFRN, CCRN, CMTE, “The key to successful transport and care of highly infectious patients requires standardized protocols for treatment. It is important to recognize a third provider in a non-patient care role as key to ensuring all transport providers are safe. Ensuring aftercare monitoring of employees and post-transport vehicle maintenance will alleviate fear and anxiety about transporting these patients. ASTNA believes that it is our responsibility to speak out on how best to protect transport personnel.”

The statement notes that the speed at which evolving microbial threats are appearing today and the impact these threats has on the transport environment require that transport professionals be vigilant about following best practices for infection prevention and control. The following viral agents are highlighted in the statement: Ebola virus disease (EVD), enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), seasonal influenza and COVID-19.
The need for continuing education and annual program review regarding treatment and transport of patients with suspected or confirmed communicable diseases is also emphasized in the statement and supported by the Commission on Accreditation of Emergency Transport Services (CAMTS) standards, the organization that accredits critical care transport programs.

“The safety and well-being of our members, their colleagues and their patients is of our utmost concern and priority and we will continue to provide important updates and education as they become available,” states ASTNA Executive Director Nikole Good, CAE.

This updated position statement is available at https://www.astna.org/page/PositionPapers.