January 13, 2021 @ 6:15 p.m.
Every Wednesday, 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.

This morning Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative and Advocacy Affairs, presented on behalf of Government Affairs.  

You can listen to today's recording here or read the notes here.
Sherrill Brown, MD
Berenice Constant
Steven Satzger
Questions & Communications

During the COVID-19 vaccination administration, we will email updates to employees as more information becomes available. Please be alert to communications from your center managers, clinic administrators, site medical directors, department managers/leaders, and Employee Health, including emails, memos, newsletters, department huddles and/or cell phone text messages.

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
  • Wednesday morning COVID-19 huddles
  • Wednesday afternoon COVID-19 Alerts emailed to all employees
  • COVID-19 resource and policy pages on Town Square
  • altamed.org/coronavirus
  • Periodic emails, as needed

FAQs
  • Click here to read the weekly FAQs
  • Refer to the weekly FAQs in earlier editions of the COVID-19 Alert to see if your questions have already been answered
Vaccine Appointments Still Available for Thursday and Friday—Click HERE to Sign Up

Please Note: At this time we do not have another vaccine event scheduled

A message from Dr. Efrain Talamantes, Health Services, COO
I had the opportunity to get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine last Friday. I experienced some minor muscle pain/soreness and rash in the injection area. By the third day, I could exercise and have not had any further pain or any other symptoms.

Like you, I'm discouraged by how our country and state have tackled this situation. We have been fighting to get more PPE and vaccines, however we are fortunate to have the vaccine available now for all our AltaMed teams.

This has been one of the most challenging years of my career as a physician. Every day, I get calls from all my family about someone who is in the hospital, dying, and or sick from COVID-19, but I have great confidence that this vaccine will save lives and get us back to normal. I’m looking forward to sending my kids back to school and seeing my grandparents and the rest of our family and friends.

As AltaMed staff, you are the trusted ambassadors our community looks to for hope in this difficult time. This vaccine is hope. I ask that you set the example and get the vaccine for yourself, your family, and our future!
Vaccine Updates for All Employees

Emails Sent to Staff to Schedule Vaccine Appointments
  • Yesterday and today, emails from Employee Health were sent to both clinical and non-clinical staff for vaccine appointments now available on Thursday, January 14 and Friday, January 15 at the Corporate (2040 Camfield Ave.) location only.
  • Please speak with your clinic leaders, managers, and supervisors before scheduling your appointment.
  • Check for the email from Employee Health. If you did not receive an email or have a specific question about scheduling an appointment, contact Sabrina Kosok.

Vaccines Taken Outside of AltaMed
  • If you received the first dose of the vaccine outside of AltaMed, for example through Los Angeles or Orange County, please return to the original site for the second dose. This is important to ensure that you are getting the same type of vaccine.
  • If for some reason you are unable to obtain your second dose at the same place you received your first dose, contact Sabrina Kosok, who will assist you or refer you to a resource for assistance.
  • Note: AltaMed currently has the Moderna vaccine only. If you received the Pfizer vaccine and are unable to obtain the second dose from the organization which administered your vaccine, contact us so we can connect you to our community partners. 
  • If you received your vaccine outside of AltaMed, please take a picture of the vaccine card and email it to Employee Health for documentation purposes.
New Vaccine Sites Coming to Los Angeles and Orange Counties

Los Angeles County
  • Los Angeles County announced on Monday that all health care industry workers can now receive vaccinations, including staffers at urgent and primary care clinics, research laboratories, pharmacies and dentist offices. Click here for more information.
  • Dodger Stadium will begin the transition from coronavirus tests to vaccinations this week. Once the site is up and running, city officials estimate up to 12,000 people will be vaccinated per day. Click here for more information.

Orange County
  • Disneyland will become a COVID-19 vaccination site this week, per Orange County officials. Other super-sites include Petco Park in San Diego and Cal Expo in Sacramento. Click here for more information.

Again, as a reminder, if you received your vaccine outside of AltaMed, please take a picture of the vaccine card and email it to Employee Health for documentation purposes.
Reminders from Human Resources

Daily Employee Screening Process
  • Each day as you enter your work site, you are required to complete the Qualtrics screening process before entering. As part of this, you must enter your unique Employee ID Number, which then verifies your identity. Enter your correct Employee ID Number and verify your identity; select Yes only for your name; select No if another employee's name appears. It is very important that you enter the correct information and check for accuracy. 

Benefits Reminders
  • If you are adding a dependent to your coverage, all supporting documentation must be uploaded to PlanSource by January 31. Non-submission of supporting documentation will result in termination of coverage.
  • If you are adding or increasing your voluntary life insurance, your Evidence of Insurability form is also due January 31. See the Benefits section on Town Square for more information.
  • If you wish to participate in the Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Medical Opt out, you must actively re-enroll by January 31. Please contact the Benefits team for more information.

Performance Management
  • Please connect with your department managers/supervisors for the 2020 Performance Management process, including key dates and training resources. Note that the self-review window is January 25 to 29.
Continue to Stay Safe and Stop the Surge

  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 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. Patient-facing staff, including front office if no plexiglass barrier is used, should wear a face shield or eye covering in addition to a face mask—avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  6. Employees must wear appropriate PPE when on site.
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.