Coronavirus: Stay Informed

What we’re doing for customers and patients affected by COVID-19 and how you can stay safe

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, respiratory or otherwise, please call your country’s emergency phone number or doctor immediately. Be sure to tell them of any exposure you may have had to COVID-19

If you are a healthcare professional, please click here

resmed-executive-team-mick-farrell

Message from our CEO Mick Farrell

As a global leader in respiratory medicine, ResMed stands with the world in the face of the latest coronavirus disease COVID-19 and is ready to help mitigate its effects, helping people breathe while their immune system fights this virus. More than 7,500 ResMedians are working in over 140 countries for this purpose. We are working with governments, health authorities, hospitals, physicians, and patients worldwide to assess their needs, and to deliver the ventilation therapy that is essential to treat the respiratory complications of COVID-19. Our primary focus is to maximize the availability of ResMed ventilators and other respiratory support devices for the patients that need them most.

As global leaders in digital health, we’re proud that many of our ventilators and bilevel respiratory devices are cloud-connected, enabling physicians and respiratory specialists to remotely monitor their patients. There could not be a clearer case for the use of digital health and remote monitoring of patients than this current crisis with a virus that is so contagious stemming from direct human contact.

I’m grateful to our global team for working through today’s challenges to help treat an increasing number of COVID-19 patients. I’d like to call out first-responder ResMedians in China’s Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, in particular one ResMed hero who, since early January, has donned a positive pressure hazmat suit, and helped set up thousands of people on ResMed ventilators and ResMed masks. There are also 100-plus ResMedians from Malaysia who in mid-March volunteered to keep working in our Singapore manufacturing plant when Malaysia closed its borders, relocating to live near our plant in Singapore, spending weeks away from their families, so they can continue to produce as many lifesaving ventilators and ventilation masks as possible.

ResMed is taking every measure possible worldwide to maximize the production of ventilators, masks, and other respiratory devices. We are looking to double or triple the output of ventilators, and scale up ventilation mask production more than tenfold. Our team is also taking precautions such as a work-from-home policy for all employees who can do that, social distancing, and ensuring world-class quality, safety, good manufacturing practices, and top-level hygiene procedures at our manufacturing, service, and distribution centers to help ensure quality, safety, and business continuity.

Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about ResMed products and links to leading advice from experts on health and safety. This information is changing rapidly; we encourage you to check back regularly for updates.

I urge all of us to do our part to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, whether that is self-quarantining, working from home, sheltering in place, or just staying healthy for our families, particularly the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Let me close with this: I would like to personally thank the front-line clinical heroes – many thousands of respiratory therapists, respiratory nurses, pulmonary and critical care medicine physicians, as well as hospital and clinical staff who set up our ventilators and masks for patients in need and deliver the lifesaving gift of breath... You are the superheroes of this COVID-19 crisis, and we salute you!

Best,
Mick

Update, February 2021:

I’m proud to report ResMed exceeded its goal of tripling its usual output of ventilators in the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing 150,000+ invasive and non-invasive breathing devices in just the first half of 2020, when demand was highest. That’s 3.5 times ResMed’s half-year production.

As a global leader in digital health, ResMed also accelerated the development and rollout of digital health tools this past year:

  1. Enabling European clincians to remotely monitor ventilated patients, including those who needed help breathing while fighting off the COVID-19 virus;
  2. Making remote CPAP mask setup easier and accurate for U.S. equipment providers
  3. Registering its 3 millionth CPAP user for ResMed’s patient engagement app, myAir that, along with remote monitoring, helps raise CPAP adherence up to 87%
  4. Helping nearly 2,000 U.S. nursing and long-term care facilities track vaccinations of over 90,000 residents and employees and counting

Thanks to 7,500+ ResMedians worldwide who have overcome unprecedented challenges to help millions sleep, breathe, and live better lives, including hundreds of thousands striken with the coronavirus. And thanks again and always to the superheroes of this crisis: thousands of frontline healthcare workers who provide daily care to patients and seniors everywhere. You are not only a source of critical care, but a companion in a time of unique isolation and social distancing, often putting yourself and your families in harm’s way to keep countless others healthy and safe. We are forever in your debt.
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For your safety

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, respiratory or otherwise, please call your country’s emergency phone number or doctor immediately. Be sure to tell them of any exposure you may have had to COVID-19.

To reduce your risk of contracting and/or spreading COVID-19, please follow these published guidelines for:

  • Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 (including how it’s transmitted, common symptoms, and how we can best avoid it): World Health Organization (WHO)
  • People at risk for serious illness from COVID-19: U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
  • Common myths vs. facts about COVID-19: WHO
  • Global travel guidance: WHO
    1. For U.S. citizens, CDC
    2. For Canadian citizens, Health Canada
  • Latest vaccine info in the U.S.:CDC
  • Latest drug and vaccine info in Canada:Health Canada
  • Rights, roles, and responsibilities of health workers, including key considerations for occupational safety and health: WHO

Frequently asked questions about ResMed respiratory devices used for COVID-19

Based on the latest information we've gathered, here is the latest guidance on ResMed devices related to COVID-19:

Can I use a CPAP device as a ventilator?

CPAP devices are designed to provide only PAP (positive airway pressure) and would require significant rework in order to function as a ventilator. Our AirCurve 10 bilevel devices, which look like our CPAP devices, can provide support to some COVID-19 patients. Learn more about our bilevel and ventilation products here. If you or someone you know is having difficulty breathing or other respiratory issues, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately. For emergencies, immediately call 9-1-1 (U.S.), or your country’s emergency response number.

For ResMed’s position on modifications to CPAP machines,read here.

What is a ventilator, and what does it do?

ResMed manufactures a range of ventilators and bilevel devices; both are indicated for home and hospital use, and have the flexibility for use in various clinical scenarios to support patients with respiratory insufficiency and failure. Our ventilators can provide invasive or non-invasive ventilation:

  • Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a form of mechanical ventilation where air is delivered to the patient through a mask or mouthpiece.
  • Invasive ventilation is used when sufficient ventilation cannot be achieved using non-invasive methods; air is delivered through a tube inserted into the trachea either by intubation or tracheotomy.
  • Bilevel devices are non-invasive only and deliver two distinct pressures, one for inhalation and the second for exhalation; the change in pressures leads to flow of air in and out of the lungs.

How do I obtain a ventilation, oxygen, or bilevel device if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 – and which would I need?

If you have been tested and diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to follow the recommendation of the medical staff that provided the diagnosis. At ResMed, we only sell our ventilation devices through the healthcare system of each country. The therapy required to treat the worst cases of COVID-19 is very complex and requires medical expertise and clinically trained staff to administer it. Your medical professional has the expertise to decide what kind of therapy is required for each patient.

If I have COVID-19, can I spread it while on invasive or non-invasive ventilation?

Information is changing daily, but the latest we’ve seen suggests that:

  • Invasive ventilation carries a lower risk of spreading COVID-19 through aerosolization or droplet dispersion (exhaling air particles that have a contagion) because air exits through a tube just as it came into the patient. Non-invasive ventilation, Evidence suggests that non-invasive ventilation procedures are more likely to produce large droplets (>10 μm) rather than aerosols, and that these are largely confined to within one meter due to their large mass. This suggests that the risk of droplet dispersion as a result of using non-invasive ventilation or bilevel devices may not be that different to that of any COVID-19 patient in the hospital who is coughing or sneezing. Additionally, non-invasive ventilation systems with a good interface fitting do not create widespread dispersion of exhaled air, according to an experts’ panel cited by the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Recommendations have been published to support good mask fit to reduce aerosols, including the use of full face masks. Nonetheless, the risk of aerosol dispersion needs to be mitigated with appropriate isolation of patients and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, such as N95 masks/respirators and eye protection, which are standard protective equipment in a COVID-19 ICU.

If I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 and need a ventilator, is it safe for me to use a reprocessed one (that another patient used)?

For each ResMed device, cleaning and disinfection procedures are provided in the device’s associated clinical guide, user guide, or service manual.

There is little information available on reprocessing requirements for equipment used in treating COVID-19 patients. The following information is based on research that has been conducted on similar viruses, and some limited data on COVID-19.

Published guidance from health authorities reinforces the need to maintain standard cleaning and disinfection procedures. To prevent cross-contamination, antibacterial filters are used on air intake and breathing tubes, and tube accessories are replaced or sterilized by the staff in the care setting. Instructions are provided on the materials and method for cleaning surfaces. Surface disinfection procedures with 62–71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite have been shown to reduce SARS coronavirus infectivity within one minute.

Are ResMed products “Made in China” safe?

Yes, all Chinese-made components for ResMed products are safe for use, and all components received at a ResMed manufacturing facility go through rigorous safety, cleanliness, and quality checks before manufacturing – processes designed to safeguard against such health threats as COVID-19.

Frequently asked questions about ResMed devices used for existing sleep/respiratory conditions

Based on the latest information we've gathered, here is the latest guidance on sleep/respiratory conditions related to COVID-19:

Can I use a CPAP device as a ventilator?

CPAP devices are designed to provide only PAP (positive airway pressure) and would require significant rework in order to function as a ventilator. Our AirCurve 10 bilevel devices, which look like our CPAP devices, can provide support to some COVID-19 patients. Learn more about our bilevel and ventilation products here. If you or someone you know is having difficulty breathing or other respiratory issues, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately. For emergencies, immediately call 9-1-1 (U.S.), or your country’s emergency response number.

For ResMed’s position on modifications to CPAP machines,read here.

Can my CPAP device help prevent COVID-19?

A CPAP machine is an effective therapy device for treating sleep apnea. CPAP use doesn’t prevent you from contracting COVID-19. Please refer to your national healthcare authority or your medical professional for more information about COVID-19 and its contamination prevention

Can I continue to use my CPAP device if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19?

Coronavirus doesn’t change your sleep apnea diagnosis – or your need to continue using CPAP therapy. If you’ve been prescribed a CPAP machine, you should continue to use it as directed to get a full night’s sleep and optimize your overall health. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you need to follow the medical advice from your healthcare provider.

In the event of COVID-19 diagnosis, read the American Thoracic Society’s tips on daily mask cleaning. Their informational guide includes additional information and resources on COVID-19 diagnosis and PAP therapy usage. Please refer to your specific ResMed User Guide for specific step-by-step instructions on cleaning your device and mask.

Can my CPAP device spread Coronavirus to my bed partner?

The latest information says non-invasive ventilation (delivered by a mask with air diffusers) has a low risk of aerosolization, provided that there’s a good mask fit, patient isolation, and PPE for care providers. See more via the American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Coronavirus FAQs: CPAP tips for sleep apnea patients.

There’s a shortage of distilled water where I live. What can I use as an alternative for my CPAP humidification?

As stated in our clinical and user guides, *optimal* humidifier performance requires distilled water. That’s because most or all of its minerals have been removed, preventing mineral buildup in the humidifier tub. That said, tap or bottled water may also be used. It will not harm the device or pose a risk to patients. It will, however, require more rigorous humidifier cleaning to prevent excess mineral buildup in the tub.

How can my ResMed device be decontaminated?

Recommendations on disinfection processes for our therapy devices have been provided to your healthcare professionals.

If I have COVID-19, can I still send back a device, mask, or accessory for repairs or replacement?

Yes. ResMed already has strict safety protocols for handling returned medical equipment. We follow those protocols to safely receive, repair, and dispose of returned equipment if necessary. Please contact your home medical equipment provider or health care professional if you have a concern about your device, mask, or accessory.

If I’m diagnosed with COVID-19, should I continue using my ResMed device or get a new one?

If you are being treated for COVID-19, you should share with your doctor or clinical team your pre-existing conditions and what devices you are already using and follow their advice. As described by the World Health Organization, the key risk for spreading COVID-19 is person-to-person transmission in close contact. The most important advice in controlling the spread of COVID-19 is washing your hands, good hygiene, and social distancing. Maintaining the cleanliness of your ResMed device according to the user guide is always a good practice to reduce infection risk to anyone else from any contaminated surfaces.

Can I give my CPAP device to a family member to treat COVID-19?

Your CPAP device has been prescribed for personal use only and cannot be used by more than one person without following a disinfection protocol set forth in our user guide. A CPAP device is used to treat sleep apnea.

Will using CPAP help me if I’m diagnosed with COVID-19?

A CPAP device is only intended to treat sleep apnea.

Am I at greater risk for getting COVID-19 if I use my CPAP?

You are not at higher risk of catching COVID-19 if you use a CPAP device. Please ask your medical professional for more specific information on your concern.

How do I disinfect my CPAP device and mask?

Disinfection processes have been provided to your healthcare professional.

Are ResMed products “Made in China” safe?

Yes, all Chinese-made components for ResMed products are safe for use, and all components received at a ResMed manufacturing facility go through rigorous safety, cleanliness, and quality checks before manufacturing – processes designed to safeguard against such health threats as COVID-19.

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