Governor Cuomo has issued an executive order giving the state the power to seize and redistribute medical equipment, including ventilators and PPE, from all private sector companies, medical practices, ASCs and hospitals with lower needs, in response to the number of COVID-19 patients flooding New York City hospitals.

The order calls for all office-based and ASC facilities to immediately inventory and surrender their ventilators and PPE (N95 masks, surgical masks, sterile gloves, surgical gowns and face shields). The order is expected to take effect this weekend.

Those who do not comply with the executive order will be subject to loss of Article 78 licensure and loss of office based accreditation, as well as face charges of professional misconduct and be subject to possible criminal and civil action.

The move is in response to Lenox Hill and other New York City hospitals, which have reached a crisis point in the need for ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients. New York now has more than 100,000 confirmed cases and its death toll is nearly 3,000 after its largest one-day increase. The state's death toll has nearly doubled in the last three days.

In an attempt to help save lives and expedite the process of acquiring ventilators and other needed equipment, the New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYRSPS), New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYSSPS) and ASPS are calling on plastic surgeons in the Tri-State area – particularly those who have ventilators with Airway Pressure Release Ventilation – to complete this online form.  This database is housed and managed by the ASPS.

Please complete the form as soon as possible to assist in this emergency effort.

Feel free to pass this link to others including non-plastic surgeons.