Medical resources and calls for medical suppliers, professionals and volunteers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

New York State Of Health Reopens Insurance Enrollment

Compare plans and enroll at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. Assistance is available by chat or in-person help. Press release. Complete the GetCoveredNYC form if you need assistance: www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/get-covered.page or text CoveredNYC to 877877 or call 311.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, get tested! Sites run by New York State are free. Check with the others and with your doctor to find out if there will be charges. coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you. New Yorkers who have symptoms or questions about Coronavirus (COVID-19) can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC to connect to a medical provider free of charge seven days a week from 9am - 9pm.

If you have been in close contact with people outside your household, get tested! (Some people get tested before they visit vulnerable loved ones.)

Telehealth

Medicare telehealth services include office visits, psychotherapy, consultations, and certain other medical or health services that are provided by an eligible provider who isn't at your location using an interactive 2-way telecommunications system (like real-time audio and video). medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth. Medicare.gov

 

5/8/2020 Tele-medicine: In order to expand access to healthcare and reduce the need for New Yorkers to leave home, the City launched a Phone-a-Clinician program with Health+Hospitals, available at 844-NYC-4NYC.

 

Tracker

4/4/2020 Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of ny.gov/covid-19tracker, which will provide New York State's comprehensive coronavirus testing data to the public, with daily updates. The public can also access the testing data through Open NY at data.ny.gov, New York State's open data portal.

 

5/1/2020 Gov. Cuomo announced new targeted efforts to further reduce the number of new hospitalizations per day, which has remained steady at approximately 1,000 over the last several days. This new effort will gather additional information and data from hospitals about the individuals who are being hospitalized for COVID-19, including if they are essential workers, where they work, how they commute, where they live and other demographics. This specific information and data from the hospitals will be used to come up with a new strategy more tailored to the reduction of new daily hospitalizations. Source: Gov. Cuomo's email of 5/1/2020.

Hotlines and websites

24-Hour Coronavirus hotline: 1-888-364-3065

 

New Yorkers can text COVID to 692692 for updates

 

Supplies: E-mail address for NYC Office of Emergency Management that health care providers (PCP's, FQHC's, others) can use for supplies: Supplyrequest@oem.nyc.gov

 

Your local health department is your community contact for COVID19 concerns. 

 

 

3/25/2020 Free online mental health services. New Yorkers can call the state's hotline at 1-844-863-9314 to schedule a free appointment.

 

SAGE sagenyc.org/nyc has a volunteer program that connects volunteers with LGBTQ+ seniors to help combat social isolation. https://www.sageusa.org/sageconnect.

 

3/27/2020 Website offering public health information to New Yorkers during the novel coronavirus crisis, aimed at centralizing and aggregating info from a range of medical authorities, COVID19.NYC.

 

4/1/2020 The NYC COVID Worker Care Network nyccovidcare.org. They're a self-organizing network of more than 2000 volunteer mental health workers, spiritual care providers, circle-keepers, and community-builders supporting frontline COVID workers during this evolving crisis. They facilitate individual support encounters, support groups, stress-reduction training, and grief rituals via Zoom or telephone encounters. Any person working to support the fight against COVID-19 in New York is eligible; sign up at the link above or follow @NYCCOVIDCare on Facebook for updates or send an email to info@nyccovidcare.org.

 

5/5/2020 Emotional support service for frontline health care workers, available 24/7. Those workers can text NYFRONTLINE to 741-741 to access these services. The state is partnering with the Kate Spade New York Foundation and Crisis Text Line to provide this service.

 

5/5/2020 The NYC COVID-19 Pet Hotline helps to find help for pets whose owners have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, call 877-204-8821 from 8am-8pm daily. The program is staffed and supported by New York City's Animal Planning Task Force, a collaboration between the city and several nonprofits like the Humane Society, PAWS NY and more.

 

4/10/2020 National Institutes of Health (NIS) U.S. National Library of Medicine COVID-19 clinical trials, see trials at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=COVID-19.

4/10/2020 U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidance about sterilizing PPE at fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

4/11/2020 The Community Service Society has established the Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (MCCAP), a free health coverage helpline assisting people with how to manage the health care bureaucracy, including applying for hospital financial assistance, resolving billing issues, or appealing coverage denials. Reach MCCAP at 888-614-5400, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.  

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-greater-new-york is offering virtual appointments where individuals can video-conference and chat with clinicians. PPGNY is offering a range of sexual and reproductive health care services. Additionally, PPGNY’s centers remain open in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens for essential abortion care, IUD implants and removals, and STI testing and treatment. You can view all of PPGNY’s services or book an appointment online or by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.

Supplies and support

8/22/2020 FDA banned hand sanitizers
fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-consumers-should-not-use#products

5/8/2020 Physician Support Line is a national, free and confidential support hotline staffed by 600+ volunteer psychiatrists providing peer support for physicians on the front line of the epidemic. Their hours are 8 am - 3 am. Call 888-409-0141.

5/3/2020 COVID-19 Test kit manufacture is now being done in NYC
Source: De Blasio's press conference of 5/3/2020
Three physical parts are needed for test collection: swaps, transport medium, containers. Swabs are now being manufactured using 3D printers. The medium can be made here, but needs to be validated. NYC has the containers. There is also the step of the actual testing, which is done in labs. NYC needs federal help to increase lab capacity.
[NOTE: Pharmacies have been given authorization do do test collection.]

3/23/2020 Economic Development Commission (EDC) just launched a new website for local businesses that want to support the COVID-19 emergency response effort: edc.nyc/covid-19-emergency-supply-sourcing-manufacturing. They are  seeking businesses with the ability to quickly source and/or make needed medical supplies (e.g. face shields, gowns, ventilators, masks, and other products as needed).

3/23/2020 For medical supply and COVID-19 testing business funding, New York State is investing in private companies. Businesses interested in working with the state should contact Empire State Development. Call Eric Gertler, ESD: 212-803-3100 or email COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov.

3/23/2020 If you want to sell medical supplies to the State, contact Simonida Subotic, Executive Chamber: 646-522-8477 or email COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov

4/2/2020 If you are a supplier or distributor with access to a stock of ready-made supplies to sell, please complete this form: nyc.gov/covidsuppliers.

3/23/2020 Companies that want to help with manufacturing and supplies in NYC should email: sourcingCOVID19@edc.nyc

4/2/2020 If you are a manufacturer and able to create new products from scratch, please complete this form: nycedc.formstack.com/forms/covid19_support

3/23/2020 E-mail address for NYC OEM that health care providers (PCP's, FQHC's, others) can use for supplies: Supplyrequest@oem.nyc.gov

3/25/2020 New York City's Office of Emergency Management has created a form (PDF) for hospitals, nursing homes, and EMS responders to use to request supplies: manhattanbp.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NYC-COVID-19_Resource-Request-Form_General.pdf
Medical offices, assisted living facilities, independent living facilities, home health care organizations, etc. can also submit the form, but supplies are limited and unless it’s one of the prioritized categories it will likely go into a queue for fulfillment once supplies are more readily available.

To submit information regarding Personal Protective Equipment procurement, please complete this form: governor.ny.gov/content/procurement-form

For information on making a donation of goods, services, and space, please visit apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/nys-covid19-tracking-offers

Donate PPE (personal protective equipment) for healthcare workers.  nyc.gov/ppedonations.

4/6/2020 There's a high need to distribute PPE to the home care workforce that provides care for people with disabilities and older New Yorkers. The Mayor's Office of People With Disabilities has created a survey to assess those needs. If you're a home care service provider for that community, please complete the survey here so adequate amounts of equipment can be procured for those workers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2F9H39

For questions, contact 646-522-8477 from 9am-5pm EDT or email COVID19Supplies@exec.ny.gov with the subject line "QUESTION RE:”

Hotels for healthcare workers - GHNY is working with NYC & Company to help provide employees of member hospitals and nursing homes with places to stay during the COVID response. Accommodations are available for individuals or groups. Listing of participating hotels: business.nycgo.com/gnyha

Blood drive, including people who have recovered from COVID-19

4/11/2020 To help develop an antibody test, Gov. Cuomo is asking all New Yorkers who have recovered from COVID-19 to contact the state and donate blood. Individuals who tested positive and then recovered from the virus may have convalescent plasma in their blood, which has antibodies against the virus and could help with the development of a treatment for the virus. More information about how to donate nybc.org/donate-blood/convalescent-plasma-covid-19-donor-request-form.

Related article: World Health Organization (WHO) says there's 'no evidence' recovered coronavirus patients won't get reinfected
April 25, 2020, thehill.com, by Morgan G Stalter
[Editor's note: This is just to remind us that we should still wear a mask and practice social distancing, even if we have had coronavirus and recovered.]

The New York Blood Center is experiencing critically low blood and platelet appointments
If you’re able to donate blood, please visit www.nybloodcenter.org for information on scheduling an appointment. The New York Blood Center has three locations open for donors, one is in our neighborhood: Grand Central Donor Center, 200 Park Avenue, Lobby Level. 

Employment and volunteer opportunities

See the How You Can Help page on the MHNA website murrayhillnyc.org/common/news/articles/article_detail.cfm?QID=11563&topicID=82&clientid=11037&subsection=sidebar

Guidance & references
Heart damage lingers in COVID-19 patients, even after recovery
July 28, 2020, nbcnews.com, by Erika Edwards
"We are not done yet," one cardiologist said, urging continued precautions against the coronavirus

Study: Virus Can Travel 26 Feet at Cold Meat Plants With Stale Air
July 23, 2020, bloomberg.com, by Megan Durisin

6/5/2020 The FDA issued Consumer Update, Understanding the Regulatory Terminology of Potential Preventions and Treatments for COVID-19. It notes that the FDA has not approved any products to prevent or treat COVID-19, explains what key terms, such as “FDA Approved,” “investigational treatment,” “expanded access / compassionate use,” “emergency use authorization,” and “off-label use” mean.

6/1/2020 Dentists can reopen on June 1. Interim Guidance For Dentistry During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/DentistryMasterGuidance.pdf.

6/12/2020 Interim Guidance For Dentistry During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/DentistryMasterGuidance.pdf

6/28/2020 CDC Guidance: People Who Are at Increased Risk for Severe Illness

5/25/2020 CDC guidance: When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19

4/17/2020 Guidance for Hospitals Regarding Visitations   opwdd.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/04/doh_covid19_hospitalvisitation_4.10.20.pdf

4/4/2020 Over the past week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a several new rules and waivers of federal requirements to ensure that local hospitals and health systems have the capacity to treat COVID-19 patients. cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/additional-backgroundsweeping-regulatory-changes-help-us-healthcare-system-address-covid-19-patient 

Guidance from the CDC: The CDC has released several helpful documents to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and explain what to do if you contract the disease. These documents are addressed to numerous stakeholders and include:

CDC COVID-19 FAQ cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

CDC urges organizers of large gatherings to encourage mask wearing
June 12, 2020, thehill.com, by Nathaniel Weixel

4/25/2020 CDC Guidance on how to trace and monitor contacts of infected people cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/open-america/contact-tracing.html

4/25/2020 CDC Guidance on travel cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html

CDC advice on Stress and Coping cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html.

How to clean and disinfect your home cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html

Strategies to optimize personal protective equipment cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html

COVID-19 and pregnant women cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/pregnant-women-faq.html

Guidance for health care professionals who have potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html

CDC decision tools for camps (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Camps-Decision-Tree.pdf) considering (re)opening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What health care personnel should know about caring for patients with confirmed or possible COVID-19 infection
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Fcaring-for-patients.html

Guidance for administrators of U.S. K-12 schools and child care programs
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html

What law enforcement personnel need to know about COVID-19
cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-law-enforcement.html

COVID-related illnesses in children. The NY State Department of Health has issued an advisory about this serious inflammatory disease, called "Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19," to inform healthcare providers of the condition health.ny.gov/press/releases/2020/docs/2020-05-06_covid19_pediatric_inflammatory_syndrome.pdf.

Scientists have turned the structure of the coronavirus into music
April 3, 2020, sciencemag.org, by Vineeth Venugopal
It's long, but you can fast-forward to spots that look interesting.

Alarmed as COVID Patients' Blood Thickened, New York Doctors Try New Treatments
April 22, 2020, By Reuters

5/11/2020 New treatment shortens recovery time. The Department of Health and Human Services is distributing a promising treatment called Remdesivir that has been shown to help patients infected with COVID-19 recover more quickly.

7/8/2020 The U.S. has formally notified the World Health Organization it will withdraw from the United Nations agency over President Trump’s criticism of its ties to China.