October 28, 2020 @ 5:15 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, give an update for clinic and corporate line of business leaders.

You can listen to the recording here.
Sherrill Brown, MD
Berenice Constant
Steven Satzger
Questions & Communications

We welcome your questions, suggestions and input. We do review each and respond appropriately, so please continue to email us—click here. Know that this is a safe space and that 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
Q & A of the Week

Q: An online article mentioned that enveloped viruses like SARS-CoV-2 do not fare well on porous surfaces like skin and clothing. Does this mean we should not be concerned about handshakes and skin-to-clothing contact?
 
From the COVID-19 Response Team
A: SARS-CoV2 is most easily transmitted via droplets from coughs and sneezes. It is still considered to be transmissible through contact and we need to protect ourselves from droplets, aerosols, and contact with contaminated environments. We should still be avoiding physical contact with friends and family who are not in our immediate households. Surfaces are still considered to be contaminated with many germs in addition to COVID, so we should be practicing hand hygiene after touching surfaces that have not been disinfected and before touching our faces or eating.  
COVID-19 Updates from Dr. Brown

COVID-19 and Halloween
The number of COVID-19 infections is up throughout the country and in many parts of the world. Locally, we are seeing a rise in the number of infections as well. A memo was shared with all employees earlier today from Veronica Gomez, Vice President of Human Resources, about Halloween costumes and related safety guidelines we must follow at work. Please refer to that memo and speak with your immediate supervisor should you have questions.

Cloth Masks
We continue to receive questions about wearing a cloth mask at work. For those employees working in administrative areas only (i.e.: no patient contact), cloth masks can be worn but a surgical mask must also be worn over it. Make sure to wash your cloth masks regularly to keep them clean.
COVID-19 Tracker

California has moved away from the "watch list" system of tracking COVID-19 and is moving to a four-tier, color-coded classification system. Click on the map to see where Southern California and every county in California stands. 
Fight the Flu—Last Week to Be Part of the Flu Raffle!

The employee flu raffle drawing ends on Saturday, October 31, but you still have time to be entered. Thank you to all of those employees who have informed us of their status. Please see below for ways to schedule your flu vaccine or submit information:


Please email any questions to flucampaign@altamed.org.
Influenza Surveillance Report
Click to view the weekly influenza surveillance report as provided by the CDC to follow how the flu is progressing.
Safety First!
 
This is a reminder for all of us to adhere to the safety guidelines below:
  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 – 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.
Helpful Reminders for All Employees

Don't Forget to Vote
The general election is days away. You can now vote early at Flex Vote and Mobile Vote centers at select AltaMed locations, which are also open to the public. The last day to vote is Tuesday, November 3 until 8:00 p.m. Visit caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov to find more early voting locations or look up official ballot drop box and drop-off locations. You can also text VOTE to GOVOTE (468-683) to find a polling location near you. For questions, please call (800) 345-VOTE (8683).

Holiday Help Program
An email was sent from Veronica Gomez, Vice President of Human Resources, about AltaMed's Holiday Help Program. A follow-up email was then sent with a personal link to nominate yourself and/or up to four individuals. For questions about the program, please contact HolidayHelp@AltaMed.org.

Rewards and Recognition Program
It's always a good time to say thank you and recognize your colleagues. Please refer to the Employee Rewards and Recognition site on Town Square to learn about this program and how you can recognize an AltaMed employee.
In the News

This morning, Despierta America (Univision) broadcast live from AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – South Gate (below) to highlight the work of our doctors, nurses, and health promotoras as part of their First Responders' Day coverage. This day honors all the people who put their lives on the line to respond to emergencies and save others. 
Health Equity from the Frontlines


You can find all the episodes on iTunes, Spotify, Google, or your favorite podcast channels. To help you remember to tune in, the Institute has a special gift for you! You can get your podcast-branded, mask-compatible earsavers from your clinic administrative assistant or at the front desk of Corporate (while supplies last). 
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.