October 7, 2020 @ 4:45 p.m.
Every Wednesday, Dr. Sherrill Brown, Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Berenice Constant, VP, Government Relations, and Elizabeth Sepetjian, AVP, Talent Management (HR), give an update for clinic and corporate line of business leaders.

This morning Olivia Lee, Manager, Legislative & Advocacy Affairs, and Steven Satzger, Director, Learning and Training, presented. 

You can read today's notes here.
Sherrill Brown, MD
Berenice Constant
Liz Sepetjian
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 (no new questions this week)
  • 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: Is wearing a facemask alone in the clinics enough?

A: A facemask and face shield or goggles are required for every patient visit or interaction. 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. If you have questions, speak to your Clinic Administrator or email Dr. Sherrill Brown.
COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidelines, clarifying that the coronavirus can be spread through airborne particles. AltaMed had addressed the possibility of aerosol transmission from the start of the pandemic and put into place appropriate safety protocols, including HEPA air filters for ventilation, plexiglass barriers, isolation policies and guidelines, and PPE.
 
This is another 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.
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 how every county in California stands.
Flu Vaccines Offered to Employees – Raffle Ends Soon!

Please visit Town Square under Flu Season is Here! (top right news block) for all flu-related information, including dates, times, and locations for vaccinations. You still have time to be entered into the weekly raffle to win some great prizes!

Reminders
  • Employees can attend any of the already scheduled flu vaccination dates without making an appointment.
  • If you cannot attend any of the already scheduled dates, please send a calendar invitation to [email protected]. Again, calendar invitations are required only to schedule a flu shot outside of the already scheduled dates/times.
  • If you receive the flu vaccine outside of AltaMed, please submit your proof to [email protected].

Influenza Surveillance Report
Click to view the weekly influenza surveillance report as provided by the CDC to demonstrate how the flu is progressing.

Congratulations to this week's flu raffle winners!
Census and Voting Updates

The deadline for completing the U.S. Census has been extended to October 31. If you have not already done so, please use this time to complete your census.

For the November 3 General Election, every registered voter in California will receive a Vote-By-Mail Ballot in the mail. Starting October 6, voters can drop off their ballots in various drop box locations. In addition, voters can cast their ballot safely at vote centers starting October 24 (in Los Angeles County) and October 30 (in Orange County). The last day to vote is November 3.

Reminders
  • Vote-By-Mail: Return your ballot on or before November 3. No postage necessary.
  • Drop Off Your Ballot: Drop your vote-by-mail ballot at a drop-off location. Remember to sign the back of your ballot envelope.
  • A Ballot Drop Box is available at AltaMed Medical and Dental Group—Santa Ana, Main (1400 N. Main Street) starting October 6 to drop off your Vote-By-Mail ballot in Orange County.
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.