COVID-19
General Information
The NCTTRAC EMCC deactivated the COVID-19 response operations on June 30, 2022. As the State Missing Assignment funding for certain elements of our response ends, please expect the following changes to some of our daily emails and information-sharing procedures.
- We will no longer send daily Situation Reports for COVID-19. The final COVID-19 SitRep was distributed to healthcare partners and stakeholders on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
- We will continue to send out the Hospital Daily EMResource COVID-19 Reporting Results; however, we will no longer distribute these reports on weekends and holidays. Instead, reports from Saturday and Sunday will be distributed on Mondays. Reports from holidays will be distributed on the next business day after the holiday. This will take effect starting Saturday, July 2, 2022.
- We will no longer send out emails to remind hospitals to report data every morning. The daily reminder notification for hospital data reporting will still go out via EMResource notifications.
You can view the current case counts in Texas by visiting the DSHS News Update webpage.
COVID-19 TESTING / VACCINATION INFORMATION
HEALTHCARE SUPPLEMENTAL STAFFING DEMOBILIZED
At this time, DSHS is no longer funding supplemental staff for hospitals. Hospitals in need of additional clinical staff are encouraged to utilize private staffing agencies to fill their needs.
North Central Texas COVID-19 Regional Infusion Center - Tarrant County
The North Central Texas COVID-19 Regional Infusion Center – Tarrant County, the state-funded Regional Infusion Center demobilized on March 25, 2022, at 6:00 PM.
- DSHS has established the Mobile Infusion Task Force to assist with the continuation of therapeutic treatments for patients after the demobilization of the RIC – Tarrant County. Physicians can contact the State of Texas Infusion at 1-800-742-5990 for more information.
- Hospitals, Freestanding EDs, and other physicians from TSA, C, D, and E are encouraged to continue submitting online referral applications to the State of Texas Infusion Hotline Online Portal. Click here for the online portal.
- It is strongly recommended that patients visit their physician; the physician can submit an online referral application to schedule their appointment.
- The State of Texas Infusion Hotline Online Portal remains active for online referral applications. The Infusion Management System will continue to auto-generate an appointment time and send it directly to the client’s address that is indicated in the online application.
Below you will find step-by-step instructions for referring physicians.
I am a Physician – How Do I Refer a Patient for Infusion?
- Visit the State of Texas Infusion Hotline Online Portal to submit the online referral application.
- Click on, Submit New Order
- Make sure to indicate any accommodations the patient may need.
- The Infusion Management System will auto-generate an appointment time and send it directly to the client’s address that is indicated in the online application for a RIC appointment closest to the home address listed for the client.
Essential Resources
Contact the EMCC
817-608-0390 – Main EMCC Number
817-607-7020 – 24/7 TSA-E Emergency Phone
NCTTRAC_EMCC@ncttrac.org
PPE: Other Resources
Potential PPE Vendors
Grainger – https://www.grainger.com/
Boundtree – https://www.boundtree.com/
Abatix – https://www.abatix.com/
Prestige Ameritech – https://www.prestigeameritech.com/
MSC Direct – https://www.mscdirect.com/
Uline – https://www.uline.com/
Medline – https://www.medline.com/
Cardinal Health – https://www.cardinalhealth.com/en.html
PPE Guidance
Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment – CDC, 4/3/2020
PPE Burn Rate Calculator – CDC, 4/7/2020
Emergency Use Authorization of Respiratory Protective Devices – FDA, 3/28/2020
Recommended Guidance for Extended Use & Limited Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare Settings – CDC/NIOSH
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of PPE – CDC, 4/3/2020
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators – CDC, 4/3/2020
Crisis/Alternate Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators – CDC, 3/17/2020
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Eye Protection – CDC, 3/17/2020
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Isolation Gowns – CDC, 3/17/2020
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks – CDC, 3/17/2020
Considerations for Respirator Selection in Healthcare – CDC/NIOSH
Procurement Under EE Circumstances Memo – FEMA, 3/17/2020
Procurement Under EE Circumstances Fact Sheet – FEMA, 3/16/2020
TSA-E Patient Transfer Assistance Cell (PTAC)
Due to the trending down of surge COVID-19 patients caused by the Omicron variant, NCTTRAC demobilized the Patient Transfer Assistance Cell on March 3, 2022. Hospitals are encouraged to sign up with Pulsara.
COVID -19 Therapeutics
Updates:
- On June 29, 2022, DSHS sent a letter to therapeutic providers reminding them that Paxlovid and Remdesivir are the preferred therapies available for high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 and Bebtelovimab and Molnupiravir are considered alternatives. You can see the full letter by clicking here.
- Therapeutics Providers can now place requests for therapeutic products within HPOP, for more information visit the Information for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers website.
- US HHS launched the Test to Treat Program. For more information about this program visit the Test to Treat Program website.
- For therapeutic, vaccine, and testing, please visit the TDEM website for available COVID-19 resources.
DSHS’s new webpage, Information for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers
DSHS has a webpage for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers to find therapeutics updates and resources. The webpage includes past DSHS therapeutics communications, product information, ordering guides, FAQs, contact information, and other helpful resources.
Therapeutics Newsletters
The 36th edition of the COVID-19 Therapeutics Provider Weekly News Digest is available. The newsletter will include important COVID-19 therapeutics-related news and updates. To understand which therapeutics are available through DSHS and how to request them, please review the therapeutics product guide. Therapeutics Providers can get updated guidance on product availability, request methods, reporting requirements, and other relevant details and resources from the product guide. If you would like to add a member of your facility to the Therapeutics Newsletter mailing list, please contact therapeutics@dshs.texas.gov.
Email COVID19Therapeutics@hhs.gov if you would like to join any of these sessions.
CLICKABLE LINKS
COVID-19 Therapeutics Enrollment Guide – DSHS
Information for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers – DSHS
TDEM COVID-19 Provider Search – TDEM
Resources for All Healthcare
Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic – CDC
Clinical Care Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination – CDC
HRSA Health Center COVID-19 N95 Mask Program – HRSA
FAQ for COVID-19 Therapeutics Providers using HPOP – DSHS
CDC’s Types of Masks and Respirators – CDC
Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know – CDC
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers – FDA
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers – FDA
J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers – FDA
CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals – CDC, Central Webpage
Interim Guidance Criteria to Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 – CDC
Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment – CDC
Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from People for COVID-19 – CDC
CMS Blanket Waivers: COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet – CMS
FAQs for Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2 – FDA
DSHS COVID-19 Testing Algorithm – DSHS
Interim Criteria to Guide Testing of PUIs for COVID-19 – DSHS
EMTALA Requirements and Implications Related to COVID-19 – CMS
Steps Healthcare Facilities Can Take Now to Prepare for COVID-19 – CDC
Recommended Guidance for Extended Use & Limited Reuse of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare Settings – CDC/NIOSH
Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in the U.S. – CDC
Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators – CDC
Interim Guidance for Persons Being Monitored for Potential Exposure to COVID-19 – DSHS
Crisis Standards of Care Guidance – Dallas County Medical Society/North Texas Mass Critical Care Task Force
Considerations for Respirator Selection in Healthcare – CDC/NIOSH
COVID-19 Listing of Local Health Departments – DSHS
Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination – CDC
Post Vaccination for Workplaces – CDC
COVID-19 Resources – ASPR TRACIE
COVID-19 Patient Surge and Scarce Resource Allocation – ASPR TRACIE
CDC COVID Data Tracker – CDC
CDC SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions – CDC
CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals – CDC
TDEM Situation Reports – TDEM
COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review – CDC
USCOVID-19 Vaccination Tracking
Resources for Hospitals
Therapeutic Management of Hospitalized Adults with COVID-19 – NIH
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SAR-CoV-2 – CDC
Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know – CDC
Interim Guidance for Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 – CDC
Comprehensive Hospital Preparedness Checklist for COVID-19 – CDC (PDF)
Hospital Operations Toolkit for COVID-19 – ASPR TRACIE
Information for Hospitals and Healthcare Professional – DSHS
Resources for EMS Agencies
Resources for Other Providers
Interim Guidance to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes – CDC
Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know – CDC
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers – FDA
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers – FDA
J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers – FDA
Preparing for COVID-19 – Long-Term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes – CDC
CDC Information for Responding to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes – CDC
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Local Health Entities – DSHS