January 5, 2022 @ 3:30 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.
Sherrill Brown, M.D.
Olivia Lee
Diego Fuentes
COVID-19 Surge in Cases

In light of the current COVID-19 surge, AltaMed continues to adjust our processes so we can meet the continued health care needs of our patients, while ensuring the safety of our employees.

When to Contact Employee Health
  • Employees who are either exposed to COVID-19, show signs/symptoms for upper respiratory infection, or have tested positive outside of AltaMed should email Employee Health right away. Instructions and guidance will then be given. We ask that you please be patient as Employee Health is working to meet the increased demand from employees.
 
Double-up On Your Masking
  • AltaMed requires 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 single KN95 mask, or a fitted N95 mask. Dispose of your mask when it is damaged, dirty, difficult to breathe through, or at the end of your shift. 
 
Meetings and Gatherings at Work
  • At this time, we suggest that in-person meetings or gatherings should not be held at AltaMed. Please reconsider holding in-person meetings or any gatherings as we must continue with our worksite safety guidelines, including physical distancing, regular hand-hygiene, and mask-wearing at all times.

Outside Testing Service to Start
  • Beginning Monday, January 10, MD Labs will provide free COVID-19 PCR testing to AltaMed patients at AltaMed Medical and Dental Group - Anaheim and AltaMed Medical and Dental Group - South Gate. These pop-up testing sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and do not require an appointmentwalk-ins only. Results will take 24 to 48 hours.
  • In an effort to decrease the demand at the clinics and allow us to utilize staff where they are needed most, please refer AltaMed patients seeking primary diagnosis of COVID-19 to these sites. For patients needing a negative test to return to work on day five after a positive test, they should be directed to pick up an at-home antigen test kit from their nearest clinic.  

Grand Rounds Update
  • The special Grand Rounds with Dr. Brown: COVID-19 Treatment, Vaccine Updates and Q&A Forum scheduled for Tuesday, January 4 was not held. Instead, it will take place next Tuesday, January 11 at 12:15 p.m.
Staying Safe While at Work

  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. 
COVID-19 Guidance for Providers and Clinic Leaders

Please continue to refer to the emails sent by Sherrill Brown, M.D., Medical Director, Infection Prevention, regarding COVID-19. On Monday, January 3, Dr. Brown sent two emails to Clinic Leaders and Providers:

For any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Brown directly.
Schedule Your COVID Booster Today

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.
Influenza and Other Respiratory Disease

Nationwide, the number of upper respiratory illness, including fever plus a cough or sore throat, has increased. It is likely that both seasonal influenza and COVID-19 viruses will circulate this winter. The CDC is urging all Californians six months of age and older to get vaccinated against the flu, even if they have already received a COVID-19 vaccine. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu shot.

Make an Appointment
If you haven't already, please make your appointment for the flu shot.
  • 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 flucampaign@altamed.org.
  • 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.