VHA COVID-19-Incident Command Call 
March 13, 2020 
AREA UPDATES 
VHA Executive in Charge Updates-Dr. Stone 

Across VHA there are a total of 23 presumptive and 
confirmed COVID cases. 6 of those are employees and 
17 are Veterans. Of the 23, only 4 have been confirmed 
by the CDC.  
 
Dr. Stone asked that the field immediately cease 
the authorization of granting access to telework 
systems (Rescue or CAG), until further notice.  
Telework is not to be authorized for administrative 
staff at this time. Telework may be authorized for 
patient care providers if that is the only way by 
which they can continue to provide patient care. 
The enterprise has not yet been able to assess the 
capacity of telework servers and cannot allow the 
system to become overloaded. There is no capacity 
issues with servers related to iPads and iPhones, if 
employees can complete their duties utilizing one of 
those devices they can telework.  
 
Dr. Stone has asked that VISNs now report on a daily 
basis the number of call outs (broken out by call outs 
related to family care and illness of the employee).  
 
Formal guidance will be coming out regarding 
visitation policies. Medical Center Director’s now have 
full authority to restrict access/visitation to areas of 
the hospital to any extent they deem appropriate. If 
access/visitation to particular areas is entirely 
suspended, Central has asked that immediate 
notification be made to VACO.  
 
For curtailments of services, Director’s may curtail 
services at their discretion, with Mr. Fisher’s 
concurrence. Sites should contact Mr. Fisher prior to 
curtailing services unless that is being done so 
emergently. An issue brief must follow all curtailments 
per the Issue Brief handbook. The issue brief must 
address, staffing availability, employee and patient 
safety considerations.  
 
Dr. Stone shared that national has released $5 million 
in funding to expand tele-ICU services across VHA.  

 VHA EMCC Director Updates-Peter Kim, MD 

None 

DUSHOM Updates-Rene Oshinski  

During the VISN updates, Ms. Oshinski stated that she 
would like VISNs to begin to report separately the 
number of ICU patients pending COVID test results.  

Closing Remarks