As we indicated in last week’s communication following Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s announcement regarding a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in the City and County of Denver, we are sharing additional information regarding our process to operationalize the Mayor’s Public Health Order (PHO).

All HealthONE non-hospital facilities in Denver are covered under the PHO mandating COVID-19 vaccination. All providers and colleagues working in patient care facilities are required to adhere to the mandate and receive the COVID-19 vaccine by September 30, 2021, unless there is a valid, documented medical or religious reason for opting out.

For many of you who received both of your COVID-19 vaccines at a HealthONE facility, your information may already be recorded in the system. Please click here to confirm that your vaccination decision has been accurately recorded.

For those who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, those seeking an exemption for medical or religious reasons, or those who have not yet provided proof of vaccination here, additional action is required:

1. If you have not been vaccinated:
   • Please do so as soon as possible. As a HealthONE provider/colleague, you can visit Employee Health at any HealthONE hospital to receive your vaccine.
   • You must get your second dose by September 16, 2021, due to the 14-day waiting period to be considered “fully vaccinated.”
   • Those who intend to be fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021, but miss the deadline, will be asked to work in an alternate HealthONE location until fully vaccinated.
   • Those who do not intend to be vaccinated will be asked to work at another HealthONE location unless/until the order is lifted.
2. If you have a valid, documented medical or religious reason for opting out:
   • Please click here or see attached paperwork that should be completed and returned to GenMailHr@HCAHealthcare.com
   • You will receive an approval/denial within 7 days
   • If the exemption is approved, you will be required to wear an N95 mask at the work location
3. If you received one or both vaccines from a site outside of HealthONE, please verify that information prior to September 16, 2021, using one of the following procedures:

• If you have a 3-4 ID, you can enter your vaccine information using our HCA Healthcare COVID-19 immunization link.
• If you do not have a 3-4 ID or do not wish to enter your information into HCA Healthcare’s immunization system, please send documentation of vaccination to GenMailHr@HCAHealthcare.com

We want to thank everyone who is already vaccinated for doing his or her part to end this pandemic. We appreciate each of you and are grateful for the care you provide to our patients each day.

We know that our nurses spend a considerable amount of time and energy caring for patients; however, it is important that you spend time on yourself. Make sure you are aware of your mental health as well. Providing quality, compassionate care can sometimes lead to fatigue and stress, which can lead to burnout.

If you are feeling burnt out, you don't have to muddle through. It is time to break up with burnout! Nurse Care counselors are available to help you beat burnout. Interested in speaking with a Nurse Care Counselor? Call Nurse Care at 800.480.1234. 

Note: Nurse Care Counselors are available 24/7. Also, sessions are free, unlimited and entirely confidential. 

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year when visitation at hospitals was restricted, the caring staff Presbyterian Saint Luke's Hospital (PSL), which is based in Denver, Colorado, sought to find an incredible way to honor the patients, who had passed away, especially those who did not have family by their side. "We knew that we did not want anyone to die alone," said Laura-Anne Cleveland, an associate chief nursing officer at PSL. "That is always our commitment, but more so when they [patients] couldn’t have visitors at their bedside." So, to help colleagues find peace after a patient passes away, medical staff now gathers in a circle to read a special message created by an unknown ER nurse.

To see the full story on ABC 7 Denver, click here.

Amy, a patient at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., has been battling COVID-19 since February 2021. She just recently came off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after more than 140 days, just in time for her birthday. When the compassionate care team heard it was Amy's birthday, they provided Amy with an unforgettable birthday experience that she would never forget. The care team surprised Amy by recreating her favorite Italian restaurant, Olive Garden, in a hospital room, for a spontaneous dinner date with her husband. One of Amy's nurses, Jessica Lagoni, came in on her day off to be their waitress and to assist in serving Amy in a special way. We are grateful for the incredible team at TriStar Centennial Medical Center for their dedication to helping give Amy a wonderful birthday celebration.

Click here to view the surprise.

Please ensure COVID vaccine screening is completed on all admitted patients who are 12 years and older. 

Attached is education for review.

COVID Screening

Phase 2 COVID Screening

Thank you for ALL you DO!

Our partners in the East Florida Division have shared Fall Education Huddle Card. Please review the education and ensure you are aware and implementing Fall Prevention interventions at the facility you are staffing. 

Fall Prevention

Thank you for your dedication to Patient Safety!

Hiring surged in June, according to the June 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation Report, which showed that 850,000 new jobs were gained last month. The increase was the largest in 10 months and the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.9% from 5.8% the month prior. Most of the growth was seen in the service sector, reflecting signs of economic improvement.

That said, the healthcare sector lost 12,000 jobs in June, with hospitals recording a third straight month of job losses.  Hospitals lost 5,500 jobs, and nursing homes lost 9,600 jobs in June. Those losses were slightly offset by 2,900 new jobs in ambulatory services. After seeing modest gains at the start of 2021, hospitals have recorded 10,200 job losses since April. Overall 537,000 healthcare jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic in February 2020, with nursing homes making up the majority of the loss (-360,000), while hospitals have accounted for nearly one-fifth of all losses (-102,000) jobs.  The only portion of the healthcare sector which saw growth throughout the pandemic has been within ambulatory care, which gained 75,400 jobs during the same time period.

The East Florida Division will be converting from the Smith Medical IV Catheters to the BD Insyte Autoguard.

Included is an Education link from BD:

https://bd.showpad.com/share/dJpwowHux75bNHdtm9jLa

In addition live education will be provided in the facility by the BD Education Team during conversion process. 

Thank you for your attention to this educational opportunity. 

Congratulations to Chris Ocampo, BSN, RN, on earning a DAISY Award!

Chris was nominated by a patient at HCA Houston Healthcare West for the kindness that he exhibited and the care that he displayed to both the patient and family. Read the full nomination below:

"As a nurse of twenty years, I had to write about a stellar experience I encountered with a nurse on the 6th floor. My father came in on hospice. I believe the home that he was staying at got scared because of how sick he had become. He was admitted from the ER to the 6th floor. My family had come up to see him, some had come to say goodbye. Chris Ocampo made our moments both comfortable and precious. He brought in my father's medication to keep him comfortable. He rounded on us hourly, which can be a challenge these days! He went above and beyond including the whole family in the plan of care and keeping us updated on the progress of the discharge. I am now at home with my dad having our final moments. However, it could not have gone so smoothly without Chris' help. Please let him know how thankful we were for his compassion. He was a shining light in a dark moment."

Please join us in congratulating Chris on his DAISY Award! 

If you're interested in joining the HealthTrust team, click here to browse our available job opportunities. 

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard requires healthcare employers to have a written plan which outlines the processes and controls in place to protect employees from exposure to COVID-19. This COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan Training will introduce employees to new required elements of OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard content here…

• Understand the elements of our written COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan
• Understand the role of the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator
• Understand the Vaccine Benefits and Medical Removal Protection Benefit
• Understand who to contact with any questions or concerns
  
  All HWS employees have been assigned the 7 minute HealthStream Course: OSHA COVID-19 Exposure Prevention Plan Training

  Please complete the course on the next worked shift. 

Attached is the HWS COVID-19 Employee Health Screening and Medical Management Policy

HWS Health Screening and Medical Management

Thank you for ALL you DO!