February 9, 2022 @ 3:00 p.m.
Every Tuesday, Sherrill Brown, M.D., Medical Director, Infection Prevention; Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative and Advocacy Affairs; and Denise Gomez, Benefits Specialist, Human Resources, update our clinic and corporate lines of business leaders.

You can listen to the recording here or read the notes here.
COVID-19 Sick Pay

California lawmakers approved the COVID-19 sick pay bill and sent it to Governor Newsom, who is expected to sign it into law. Human Resources is monitoring the movement of this bill and will provide updates accordingly.
Employee Booster Events

Employee Health will host two booster events for employees at the MSO Training Room (1401 N. Montebello Blvd. in Montebello) on Thursdays, February 17 and February 24.

To sign up for either booster event, click on the preferred date:

If You Receive the Booster Outside of AltaMed

Make Your Booster Appointment
  • Email Employee Health.
  • Call Employee Health at (323) 765-6153.
  • Contact the Employee Health lead at your respective clinic.
AltaMed to Stop Distributing Home Test Kits

During the recent Omicron surge, AltaMed distributed more than 130,000 rapid COVID-19 test kits to patients, employees, and community members. These kits allowed people to safely test at home and evaluate themselves for COVID-19, helping to decrease the spread and impact of the Omicron variant.

This surge has put considerable strain on rapid test distributors to keep up with the demand for testing kits. As a result, unfortunately HRSA has decreased our allotment of COVID-19 test kits. Therefore, in order to remain compliant with the regulatory requirements of testing under-vaccinated health care workers at AltaMed, at this time we are recommending to pull back on rapid test kit distribution to patients and the community, and conserve our supply for our unvaccinated employees.

As such, we ask that you please reserve any Quidel rapid COVID-19 test kits that you have currently in stock, and stop distributing to patients and staff. We also ask that you stop utilizing rapid antigen test kits in the clinics for patient testing. If the supply increases again, we will send additional recommendations for antigen test kit usage in the clinics.

Until further notice, please keep your remaining antigen test kits for testing asymptomatic unvaccinated or booster-eligible and un-boosted staff for twice-a-week COVID-19 testing. Employee Health will send lists of staff who require twice-a-week testing to Employee Health leads and their leaders. If the distribution process changes, we will inform you. For any questions, please contact Employee Health.
Wearing Masks Still Required at AltaMed

Although California will end its mask mandate on Tuesday, February 15, AltaMed will continue to require that all employees and patients wear a mask at all times while at any of our facilities. The CDC and OSHA set very specific guidance for health care organizations, like AltaMed, regarding the indoor mask requirement in both Los Angeles and Orange counties.

All AltaMed employees, regardless of vaccination status, will still be required to wear masks indoors for source control to protect ourselves and others. Patients will also be required to continue to wear a mask while they are indoors.

Note: If patients state that there is no longer a mask mandate, inform them of the masking requirement for all health care facilities regardless of vaccination status and while indoors.

Click here for mask-wearing signage, or here to access other COVID-19 signage.
MD Labs Testing Update

MD Labs continues to provide free COVID-19 PCR testing to AltaMed patients. Testing hours for each location are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Appointments are not required and results will take 24 to 72 hours.

  • AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Anaheim (Monday through Friday)
  • AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – South Gate (Monday through Friday)
 
Direct AltaMed patients seeking primary diagnosis of COVID-19 to these sites. They will need to provide an ID, and if they have insurance, they will need to provide that information as well. Patients without insurance will still be tested. An email address is also required so the results can be sent to them.
Placing Your Orders for Booster Packets

Booster packets for patients are available to all clinics. Complete the order form located under Signage & Stationery in Town Square and submit it to Yvette Lopez in Health Services by Thursday of each week in order to receive the packets by the following week.

The items listed below are included in the packets:
  • Attestation Form
  • Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Fact Sheets EUA
  • COVID-19 "What to Expect After Vaccine" flyer
Ongoing Safety Guidelines at AltaMed

  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. 
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, email Christina Sanchez, Vice President, Public Affairs. 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, call Christina at (310) 420-1135. If you'd like to read news releases from AltaMed, visit our external website, AltaMed.org under Newsroom.