July 28, 2021 @ 5:30 p.m.
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 listen to the recording here.
Sherrill Brown, M.D.
Berenice Constant
Steven Satzger
Increase in Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, COVID-19 Testing, and Positivity Rates

On Monday, July 26, Dr. Sherrill Brown sent an email to clinical leaders and providers about the rise in upper respiratory tract infections, an increased demand for COVID-19 testing, and an increase in the positivity rates seen at AltaMed. Please review her email.

AltaMed now regularly has more than 200 provider visits per day related to upper respiratory tract infections, with 516 COVID-19 tests and a 9.4% positivity rate. That is up from <1% since mid-June.

AltaMed's Testing Procedures
  • Patients who have symptoms of COVID-19
  • Asymptomatic, but a high risk of close exposure to COVID-19, if unvaccinated
  • Screening test prior to a procedure or surgery
  • Patients residing in a congregate living facility
  • Returning back to school, if needed
 
Testing Before Travel
  • The recommendation is for AltaMed not to test prior to travel as we cannot guarantee if the test results will be returned in a timely manner.
  • The recommendation is for the traveler to get tested at a site with guaranteed timing prior to travel.

Resources
  • Click here for the new policy for COVID-19 Rapid Testing – Curbside
  • Click here for AltaMed's testing workflow
  • Click here for the July 20 COVID-19 Grand Rounds presentation with additional information, including reminders about monoclonal antibody therapy 

Reminders
  • Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect ourselves, our patients, family, and friends from getting sick or dying of COVID-19. Your words of encouragement do wonders to help convince those around you that vaccination is the safest route.
  • Anyone can come to our clinic sites to get their COVID-19 vaccines.
  • We are in the process of making COVID-19 vaccination for employees even easier. Remember: You may use paid work time to get vaccinated, as we believe it is the best way to keep you safe. Contact Employee Health or call (323) 765-6153.
AltaMed Employee Vaccinations

Get Your Vaccination
Vaccinations are available to employees on Thursdays at AltaMed Pharmacy – Commerce (5417 E. Whittier Blvd. in Los Angeles). 

Community Vaccination Events

AltaMed continues to host several community COVID-19 vaccination events. Click here for the full list of event sites and information.

  • Friday, July 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Belvedere Park (5035 1st Street in Los Angeles)

  • Tuesday, August 3 from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Northgate Market Boyle Heights (425 S. Soto St. in Los Angeles)

  • Thursday, August 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Northgate Market El Monte (3828 Peck Rd.)

  • Saturday, August 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Central City Neighborhood Partners (501 S. Bixel St. in Los Angeles)

Please share this information with your patients and community.
AltaMed Vaccination Sites

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:
  • 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 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
  • 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 (Every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
  • 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)
  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.

FAQs
  • Click here to read the most recent FAQs (answers to new questions are pending).
  • Refer to the weekly FAQs in earlier editions of the COVID-19 Alert to see if your questions have already been answered.

Town Square
  • Go to the COVID-19 Vaccine news blocks on Town Square for current information and helpful resources.

How to Stay Informed
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.