December 29, 2021 @ 12:30 p.m.
Every Tuesday, Dr. Sherrill Brown, Medical Director, Infection Prevention; Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative and Advocacy Affairs; and Diego Fuentes, Manager, Benefits and Leave of Absence, update our clinic and corporate lines of business leaders.

You can listen to the recording here or read the notes here.
Sherrill Brown, M.D.
Olivia Lee
Diego Fuentes
Federal and Local COVID-19 Updates

President Biden continued to urge Americans to be vaccinated and boosted. Last Tuesday, he delivered remarks at the White House outlining a plan to increase testing, speed up the vaccination campaign, and boost the capacity of hospitals. The President announced that the U.S. would stand up new federal testing sites around the country, helping states that need additional testing capacity.

His plan includes purchasing 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests to distribute free to any American who wants one. The President also announced that he is mobilizing 1,000 military health personnel if hospitals need them, as well as resources from FEMA to help with staffing and adding beds. Click here to read more.

With coronavirus cases soaring, Los Angeles County health officials announced last Friday that they are expanding COVID-19 testing services, including the relaunch of an at-home test collection program. County officials said the expanded testing includes extended hours of operation at testing sites across the county, as well as more mobile testing units dispatched to hard-hit areas.
AltaMed Continues to Monitor COVID-19

AltaMed continues to review and monitor COVID-19 cases at work, along with the guidelines and recommendations presented by the CDC and government agencies. If changes are made to any of our AltaMed guidelines, we will inform employees.

At this time, we ask employees who are either exposed to COVID-19, show signs/symptoms for upper respiratory infection, or have tested positive outside of AltaMed to email Employee Health right away. Instructions and guidance will then be given.

Masking Update
We require that anyone at our facilities, including staff, wear a mask at all times for source control to protect yourself and those around you. We recommend increasing the protection of masking with either double-masking with two, well-fitted surgical masks, a KN95 mask, or a fitted N95 mask. Please dispose of your mask when it is damaged, dirty, difficult to breathe through, or at the end of your shift. 
Safety Guidelines
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Practice physical distancing—Stay six feet apart from other individuals whether inside or outside.
  4. Wipe down any work surfaces you touch.
  5. 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.
  6. Employees must wear appropriate PPE when on site. 
More Rapid Home Tests Coming

AltaMed began distributing the free Quidel Rapid Home Tests last week in partnership with HRSA. We will be receiving more test kits in the next few days, so employees who did not receive the kits can now get them. In addition, clinics have been instructed on how to distribute the test kits to patients.

Please Note: The Quidel Rapid Home Test kits are available for personal use testing. At this time, each employee can take a maximum of only five boxes (two tests per box).
Make an Appointment for Your COVID Booster

As health care workers, AltaMed employees are eligible to receive the COVID-19 boosters. The FDA and the CDC have given mixing and matching vaccine types the green light. Appointments for employee boosters are required.

How to Schedule Your Booster
  1. Email Employee Health.
  2. Call Employee Health at (323) 765-6153.
  3. Contact the Employee Health lead at your respective clinic.

If You Receive the Booster Outside of AltaMed
  • If you get your COVID-19 booster outside of AltaMed, email proof (photo of the vaccination record card) to Employee Health so they may update their records.

After you receive your booster, click here for additional information.
Flu Shots Still Available to Employees

The flu season has started, but there is still time to get vaccinated. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine.

Make Your Flu Shot Appointment
If you haven't already, please make your appointment and fight the flu.
  • AltaMed clinics are providing the flu vaccine to employees. Contact the Employee Health lead at your site to schedule an appointment.
  • Contact Employee Health or call (323) 765-6153 to schedule your flu shot or to request a high-dose flu vaccine. Again, appointments are required.
  • If you receive the flu vaccine outside of AltaMed, send proof of the vaccination to [email protected].
  • Employees who submit their proof of vaccination to Employee Health will be rewarded with 200 Vitality points.
  • Click here for the influenza declination form.
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
  • Click here to read the most recent FAQs
  • Refer to the weekly FAQs in earlier editions of the COVID-19 Alert to see if your questions have already been answered
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.