The ANSI Federation and standardization community are stepping up with guidance, resources, and initiatives to support public health, safety, and infrastructure during the COVID-19 outbreak. Suggestions for news items may be submitted to [email protected]. All submissions are published at ANSI's discretion.
AAMI Hosts On-Demand Panel Session with Healthcare Technology Management Professionals on Lessons Learned during the Pandemic
In a joint COVID panel discussion, AAMI, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, hosted a webinar with experts representing healthcare technology management, healthcare sterile processing, and infection prevention to discuss how these disciplines have responded to and learned from the pandemic. The session, available to the public on-demand, presents a multidisciplinary approach and lessons learned in each area and across the organization. Participants included:
AAMI also recently announced the launch of a new on-demand webinar series just for members that focuses on emergency management for healthcare technology management (HTM) professionals. The first in the series is an overview of how HTM professionals need to expect the unexpected—especially relevant as healthcare delivery organizations face a worsening COVID-19 crisis. Read more about the series on AAMI's website.
National Restaurant Association Releases COVID Impact Survey Results, Pens Letter to Congressional Leadership for Aid
A new "COVID-19 Restaurant Impact Survey" released in December by the National Restaurant Association provides a snapshot of restaurant business conditions, closures, and the state of restaurant jobs and supply chain business conditions amid the pandemic. The Association's research group conducted a survey of 6,000 restaurant operators and 250 supply chain businesses in November, with findings that reveal that 58 percent of chain and independent full service operators expect to continue furloughs and layoffs for at least the next three months. Another 37 percent of operators say it is "unlikely their restaurant will still be in business six months from now, if there are no additional relief packages from the federal government."
In light of the survey results, the Association sent a letter to Congress on December 7, which emphasizes that restaurants need immediate financial relief so they can remain in business during the challenging time, during mid-winter and with infections on the rise. Addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the letter commends leadership for highlighting restaurants as an example of businesses needing special attention from Congress. It also gives a better picture of how thousands of businesses are shuttering permanently or closing for the long term.
"The results should galvanize Republicans and Democrats alike to finally reach agreement on a compromise coronavirus relief package for our industry and employees, our suppliers, and the communities that rely on the strength of the industry," noted Sean Kennedy, the National Restaurant Association's executive vice president of public affairs.
Read the news announcement about the survey and the letter to Congressional members on the National Restaurant Association's website.
See more ANSI member efforts in the ANSI COVID-19 Resource Webpage Highlighting Standardization Community Response.