Important Employee Information and Links
Employee Self-Screening Form Employee Self-Screening Form
___________________________________________________________________Coronavirus Announcements for Employees
COVID Employee Resources COVID Employee Resources
___________________________________________________________________
December 4, 2020
Temporary Suspension of Some Surgical Cases Extended
With the Hospital continuing to see high numbers of COVID-19 positive inpatients and increased numbers of patients seeking our care for other health issues, non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries that would require an inpatient bed have been temporarily suspended. Those cases were originally suspended through Friday, December 11.
They are now suspended through Friday, January 4. The status will be reassessed on Monday, December 21.
Childcare/Virtual Learning Support Reminder
With some school districts deciding to remain virtual through Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we wanted to remind parents we are providing temporary childcare/virtual learning support for the children of Hospital employees who are impacted by changes in school schedules during the pandemic.
The Hospital is subsidizing the cost of the program for employees. The cost for employees is $15 per day, per child. Financial scholarships are available.
The paperwork from the YMCA for the program reflects the full cost of the programming, not the cost to Hospital employees.
The program is open to children kindergarten through grade six. Staff will be available to help facilitate online learning with children bringing their own school-provided devices.
Registration is required. For more information or to register your child, please contact Ryan McNally, Director of the Miller Center Joint Venture, at ryan.mcnally@evanhospital.com or by calling 570-522-2000, extension 64133.
Clarification on Asymptomatic Employees with COVID-19 Exposure
To further clarify and correct some of the information provided in the December 3 COVID-19 update. Please review the following:
Interim Plans to Allow Asymptomatic HCP with an Unprotected Exposure to Return to Work Policy
To establish a plan to maintain appropriate staffing levels essential to providing a safe work environment for healthcare personnel (HCP), asymptomatic HCP exposed to COVID-19 in the community, via travel, by a household member or close contact, or healthcare exposure may continue to work in the healthcare setting under crisis capacity standards.
All HCP whom are subject to this plan are required to follow all procedures listed under this plan for 14 days after a non-household exposure event (28 days after exposure to a household member).
In addition to completing the daily employee screening, exposed HCPs must wear only Hospital provided Level 1 masks or higher. Unless otherwise noted, they will not be permitted to remove their mask for any reason.
All HCP subject to this plan will be required to use the 3M 1860 respirator or PAPR only when respiratory protection is required per applicable policies. This respirator is teal in color.
- HCP fit tested with this style of mask will have a red sticker indicating “N95.”
- HCP fit tested on another respirator will need to be fit tested on this model.
- HCP using PAPRs will be required to use a Hospital provided Level 1 mask or higher under the PAPR hood.
HCP under this protocol will not be permitted to use “common areas” of assembly such as the Dining Room, conference rooms, or employee breakrooms. Apple Conference Rooms have been designated for use by these employees during this period. All existing policies regarding physical distancing and room occupancy will be followed.
COVID-19 Data (as of 1 pm)
Evangelical Community Hospital:
Total Tested — 20,060
Positive Results — 2,351
Negative Results — 17,135
Results Pending — 572
Positivity Rate (rolling two-week average) — 31.34%
Inpatients — 34
Deaths — 24
Area Counties (total confirmed cases from PA DOH website):
Union — 1,730
Northumberland — 2,724
Snyder — 1,037
Montour — 746
Centre — 6,338
Lycoming — 2,420
Kendra Aucker,
President and CEO
___________________________________________________________________
December 3, 2020
Employees with Possible COVID-19 Exposure
As we continue to manage through the current staffing crisis, employees who may have been exposed to COVID-19 without proper PPE but remain asymptomatic will be asked to continue working.
In an effort to protect co-workers and patients, these employees must wear N95 masks at all times and take their breaks in isolated areas. Potentially exposed employees will be asked to take their meal breaks in Apple ABC Conference Rooms.
All employees, including those who may have experienced potential exposure but remain asymptomatic, should report any exposure to Employee Health and continue to complete their employee self-screening prior to the start of their shift.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Ramping Down
The Cardiac Rehab Service is temporarily ramping down operations. All current patients will finish a modified program. The Cardiac Rehab team will be reallocated to areas of critical need in the organization while retaining the ability to provide support for patients who would most benefit from a modified rehabilitation program following a cardiac event.
DOH Inspection Rescheduled
Citing staffing issues, the PA Department of Health has asked to reschedule the Hospital’s inspection. Originally planned for December 7-11, the inspection has been rescheduled to January 11-15.
Clarifying Cost of Childcare/Virtual Learning Support
As previously reported, we are providing temporary childcare/virtual learning support for the children of Evangelical Community Hospital employees who are impacted by changes in school schedules during the on-going pandemic.
The Hospital is subsidizing the cost of the program for employees. The cost for employees is $15 per day, per child. The paperwork from the YMCA for the program reflects the full cost of the programming, not the cost to Hospital employees.
The program is open to children kindergarten through grade six. Staff will be available to help facilitate online learning with children bringing their own school-provided devices.
Registration is required. For more information or to register your child, please contact Ryan McNally, Director of the Miller Center Joint Venture, at ryan.mcnally@evanhospital.com or by calling 570-522-2000, extension 64133.
COVID-19 Data (as of 1:30 pm)
Evangelical Community Hospital:
Total Tested — 19,700
Positive Results — 2,254
Negative Results — 16,922
Results Pending — 524
Positivity Rate (rolling two-week average) — 31.23%
Inpatients — 39
Deaths — 24
Area Counties (total confirmed cases from PA DOH website):
Union — 1,687
Northumberland — 2,648
Snyder — 1,006
Montour — 630
Centre — 6,220
Lycoming — 2,323
Kendra Aucker,
President and CEO
___________________________________________________________________
Previous COVID-19 Updates Previous COVID-19 Updates
___________________________________________________________________
Links
The following links provide access to web-based services and information for employees.
___________________________________________________________________