August 18, 2021 @ 5:00 p.m.
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Every Tuesday, Dr. Sherrill Brown, Medical Director, Infection Prevention; Berenice Constant, Vice President, Government Affairs and Civic Engagement; and Steven Satzger, Director, Learning and Training, update our clinic and corporate line of business leaders.
Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative and Advocacy Affairs, presented on behalf of Government Affairs.
You can read the notes here.
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AltaMed Begins Testing Non-Vaccinated Employees Today
Today AltaMed begins its twice-a-week rapid antigen testing of non-vaccinated employees, just a few days ahead of the state's August 23 deadline.
PACE has already started testing its staff, and Employee Health has trained its leads at all clinics, the MSO, and the Patient Service Center so they can begin testing their staff. Corporate employees who need to be tested should contact Jose Rodriguez in Human Resources or call (323) 765-6148 to schedule a test. Employees who are 100% remote are still required to get tested. Emails have been sent to non-vaccinated employees from Employee Health about the testing process.
Send Proof of Vaccination
Employee Health is contacting employees who do not have any vaccination information on file. If you have been vaccinated outside of AltaMed, email proof of your vaccination to Employee Health to update their records.
Employee Vaccinations
Vaccinations are available to employees on Thursdays at AltaMed Pharmacy – Commerce (5417 E. Whittier Blvd. in Los Angeles).
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To schedule an appointment, contact Employee Health or call (323) 765-6153.
- You will need to find street parking at this location.
As a reminder, like all other health care organizations in California, AltaMed will comply with the state’s order to have all employees vaccinated no later than September 30.
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Third Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccines
The FDA and CDC have authorized a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for those with weakened immune systems. This authorization applies only to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The CDC is also recommending that women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future receive the vaccine.
To read more:
Infection Prevention Updates
Please read the email sent by Dr. Sherrill Brown on Friday, August 13 regarding the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for those with moderate to severe immune system suppression, including:
- History of solid organ transplant
- History of bone marrow or stem cell transplant
- Current cancer or on chemotherapy
- HIV/AIDS
- Chronic steroid use for one month or more
- Use of immune modulating therapies, such as Rituximab
- Kidney disease requiring dialysis
- Presence of cirrhosis
- Inherited or acquired immune deficiency syndromes
Ideally patients should receive the same type of vaccine as their previous dose; if you received the first and second dose of Pfizer, you should receive the third dose of Pfizer as well. Please reach out to Dr. Brown for any questions or refer to her emails from Friday, August 13 and her updated standing order on Monday, August 16.
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Grand Rounds Update
Sherrill Brown, MD, Medical Director of Infection Prevention, presented a COVID-19 Treatment, Vaccine Updates, and Q&A Forum during the Tuesday, August 17 Grand Rounds session. Note: Another special Grand Rounds has been scheduled for next Tuesday, August 24 at 12:15 p.m. with Dr. Brown.
Topics Discussed:
- Vaccines for immune suppressed individuals
- Upcoming booster recommendations
- Testing for unvaccinated staff
- Vaccine requirements at AltaMed
- Vaccine recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Update to safe environment: Gatherings at Work
- Update on treatment with monoclonal antibodies for underinsured
Resources:
Video Presentation Timestamps
- Presentation: 0:00 – 43:35
- Q&A Session: 43:35 – 45:35
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AltaMed Vaccination Sites and Community Vaccination Events
All of the AltaMed vaccination sites are open to those aged 12 or older. Continue to talk to your patients about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other vaccinations. There are no restrictions and there is no waiting period to get vaccinated.
How to Make an Appointment
- AltaMed Patients:
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MyAltaMed.net if they already have an existing account
- AltaMed Vaccine Hotline at (888) 909-5232
- Non-AltaMed Patients and Community Members:
- AltaMed Vaccine Hotline at (888) 909-5232
- MyTurn
AltaMed Vaccination Sites
- AltaMed General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Sundays and Mondays)
- AltaMed Medical Group – Northgate Market, Olympic (Fridays)
- AltaMed General Pediatrics – Westlake, 3rd Street (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays)
- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Commerce, Goodrich (Thursdays and Saturdays)
- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – East Los Angeles, 1st Street (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Medical Group – Westlake, 3rd Street (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays)
- AltaMed Daniel V. Lara Clinic – East Los Angeles (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – El Monte (Mondays)
- AltaMed Medical Group – Pico Rivera, Slauson (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Huntington Beach (Thursdays and Fridays)
- AltaMed Medical Group – Orange (Fridays)
- AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Santa Ana, Main (Monday to Friday)
AltaMed Pharmacy Sites
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Anaheim (Thursdays)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Boyle Heights (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Commerce (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Commerce, Goodrich (Thursdays and Saturdays)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Huntington Park (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Pico Rivera, Passons (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – Santa Ana, Bristol (Monday to Friday)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – South Gate (Thursdays)
- AltaMed Pharmacy – West Covina (Saturdays)
Community Vaccination Events
AltaMed continues to host several community COVID-19 vaccination events. Click here for the full list of event sites and information.
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Staying Safe
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Wear your masks—Face masks are to be worn at all times over your nose and mouth (except when drinking or eating), and should be stored properly or discarded. Patients need to wear masks at all times in examination rooms as well.
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Maintain hand hygiene—Staff should have easy access to hand sanitizer dispensers to clean hands frequently, and should wash their hands for 20 seconds at a time.
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Practice physical distancing—Stay six feet apart from other individuals whether inside or outside.
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Wipe down any work surfaces you touch.
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If employees need to be within six feet of someone for a prolonged period of time, wear a face shield and face mask in both administrative and clinical settings—avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. In addition, a face shield and face mask need to be worn at all times when interacting with patients.
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Employees must wear appropriate PPE when on site.
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Questions and Communications
We welcome your questions, suggestions, and input. We do review each question and respond appropriately, so please continue to email us—click here. Know that this is a safe space and most questions will be answered individually prior to being shared anonymously with staff.
How to Stay Informed
FAQs
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Click here to read the most recent FAQs (answers to new questions are pending).
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Refer to the weekly FAQs in earlier editions of the COVID-19 Alert to see if your questions have already been answered.
Town Square
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Go to the COVID-19 Vaccine news blocks on Town Square for current information and helpful resources.
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Please Note: If you are contacted by the media with questions about the coronavirus outbreak or for any other reason, please email Veronica Orozco, Sr. Manager, Public Relations. The Public Relations team monitors all media coverage of AltaMed (social and traditional platforms) to uphold our reputation. If you have questions and concerns regarding media coverage, please call Veronica at (323) 482-3073. If you'd like to read news releases from AltaMed, visit our external website, AltaMed.org under Newsroom.
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