Important Employee Information and Links
Coronavirus Announcements for Employees
COVID Employee Resources COVID Employee Resources
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September 17, 2021
Update on Third Dose of Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to issue an announcement on third doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine late today.
If the FDA approves third doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the recommendation will then go to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). The APIC provides guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccines. The CDC would then issue guidance to the nation’s vaccine providers.
We follow CDC guidelines and will release additional information on third dose vaccination clinics only after the CDC issues its guidance.
Mandatory COVID-19 Testing Update
Testing for asymptomatic unvaccinated employees, contract labor, volunteers, and students will begin under the COVID-19 Workplace Surveillance Testing Policy on October 4, 2021.
The Hospital will use the QuickVue SARS Antigen test, which is designed to detect proteins from the virus that cause COVID-19 in respiratory specimens. Employees will collect their own specimen through a self-administered anterior nasal swab (inserted no more than ¾ inch into the nostril) during each work shift when working at a Hospital facility or in the community on behalf of the Hospital.
Employees required to test will receive further instructions on test kit pick up and drop off locations.
All tests will be processed by the Hospital laboratory.
Only employees with positive test results will be contacted by an Employee Health representative. Employees testing positive on the antigen test will be referred to an Evangelical testing site for a follow-up PCR test and receive instructions for quarantine and return to work.
By Friday, September 24, 2021, any employee who does not have a COVID-19 vaccination record on file with Employee Health will receive a HealthStream assignment that will include:
- Video demonstration on how to self-administer the anterior nasal swab.
- Detailed instructions on the daily testing process (pick up, test administration, drop off, and results notification).
- Fact sheet for patients from Quidel Corporation for the QuickVue SARS Antigen Test.
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.
- Link to the COVID-19 Workplace Surveillance Testing Policy via Policy Manager.
- Attestation confirming receipt of the informational materials and policy requirements.
Employees must complete the assignment by Thursday, September 30.
Vaccinated employees who believe they received the assignment in error should contact Employee Health at 570-522-2597 or [email protected].
Extra Work Available
If you are interested in picking up some additional hours outside of your normal work schedule, there are opportunities in Environmental Services, Nutritional Services, the COVID-19 testing site, the COVID-19 hotline, Registration, Health Information Systems, patient and visitor screening, and Nursing Assistants.
This is completely voluntary and not required. But you would be making some additional money and helping us work toward resolving some of our staffing challenges.
To indicate your interest, please complete this form:
https://forms.office.com/r/pPWcGxgkRM
Update on Cleaning PAPRs
According to new guidance from 3M, powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) should be cleaned with Sani-Cloth Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes (orange top canister). These wipes can be ordered through Lawson as Sani-Cloth Bleach Orange #6120075.
3M has reported some deterioration of frequently disinfected plastic parts when using the originally recommended Super-Sani wipes (purple top).
For more information, please contact Matt Exley at [email protected] or extension 24434.
Reminder: Childcare/Virtual Learning Support
As a reminder, we are positioned to provide childcare/virtual learning support at the Miller Center for children of Evangelical Community Hospital employees if area school districts begin to fluctuate between in-person and virtual instruction.
Children kindergarten through grade six will be accepted into this program. Staff will be
available to help facilitate online learning with children bringing their own school-provided devices.
If you are notified that your child’s school district is moving to virtual learning and you are interested in registering them for this program, please contact Ryan McNally at [email protected] or 570-522-2000, extension 64133.
Kendra Aucker,
President and CEO
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Links
The following links provide access to web-based services and information for employees.
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