Kaweah Health Employee Huddle

February 26, 2021

Please Note: When time does not allow us to answer every submitted question, we answer questions at the next week KD Huddle. Submit a question now for next week by e-mailing dvolosin@kaweahhealth.org.

EMPLOYEE HUDDLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR 2/26/2021

Could we get the windows washed at the hospital? The stairwells and lobbies need to be cleaned as well.

For external cleaning of windows, we contract with a company to provide cleaning on a scheduled basis. We are currently challenged with external window cleaning for the fourth floor and above for certain buildings because of the roof construct. We’re working on a solution for that. We recently added inside window cleaning to the EVS worklist (and they are also now submitting work orders to Maintenance now when drapes/curtains are broken or dirty).
Please advise where the windows are dirty with mud and we’ll see they get cleaned.
In addition, we’ll continue to focus on the common areas of elevators and stairwells. We appreciate everyone helping to pick up trash when they see it!

Will we be offering day camp for elementary age child care over the summer?

Between now and June 5^th, we’ll wind down the day camp at The Lifestyle Center. Enrollment is already starting to decline in fact. Currently, we are operating on an emergency provision that ends April 20^th. We will apply for an extension as needed.

What will happen to the day camp if/when Lifestyles open?

We will be using space, likely the Conference Room and another area, which are separated from the gym areas.

The District has been consistent with saying raises are on a freeze this fiscal year. Is it true that nurses received raises?

While we froze merits this year, we continue to evaluate wages relative to the market in the Central Valley. This is annual work that we do and it is anticipated and budgeted based on our best estimates. Since July 1, 2020, there have been positions where we have applied market adjustments, including recently RN’s. We continue to work through market data and will likely make a few more adjustments. This is in addition to the minimum wage changes we made the end of December which affected 1,600 employees. We intend to bring back the merit program on July 1, 2021.

Can you review the process for market adjustments? How often does it happen and does it happen for all departments at the same time?

Our goal is to apply market adjustments at the beginning of the fiscal year to be in line with budget. Over the years, adjustments have been made throughout the year. The work behind these adjustments is extensive; we review each employee through the process.

Will the extra shift bonuses be extended to the for the next pay period?

We provide those in 6 week increments. I am taking the review to ET next week to make a decision on the extension. We will talk next week and then announce soon.

What is Employee Health doing with the information they are collecting on vaccination side effects?

Employee Health is not collecting vaccination side effects information.

Now that the positive employees number is dropping, is our staffing leveling out?

We are a very busy healthcare system, ramping back up on our Surgical Services, but also wanting to give staff time off. We have 80 open RN positions now and about 70 travelers. Overall, we always have open positions and leaves, so while we are very glad to have fewer employees out on covid-related leaves, we’re always concerned about staffing.

Dianne, do you have a hobby that has helped you with your mental health during this pandemic?

The three g’s…golf, gardening, and grandkids (which I think about more than connect with since they live on the east coast)!

Are we sure that people who are vaccinated can still spread COVID or is it unclear?

We are sure that people can still get and spread COVID. Vaccines are made to help you build antibodies so you can fight the virus not prevent you from ever getting it.

Can departments with a high percentage of vaccinations start having potlucks again?

No, we are not ready to move back into gathering mode or activities yet. Single packaged food items can be brought in and shared with your team, but no potluck style foods.

Can we go back to surgical masks in areas such as PT? The N95’s are pointless if not fit-tested.

If people have not yet been fit tested, they will be. It was my understanding that people had been fit tested in October, but if we missed groups of people I will be following up to make sure everyone is fit tested so the N95 is effective in keeping you safe.

Are we still under the mandate of wearing a mask even in our cubicles if we did not get the flu shot?

Flu season ends at the end of March. If you did not get your flu vaccine you do not need to wear your mask in your cubicle area.

Since our COVID positive numbers are dropping which floors have COVID patients?

We have been able to reduce our isolation unit needs. We have patients with COVID on 2S, 3W, ICU primarily. 3W and ICU are mixed. We may still have pods as numbers fluctuate. We also have patients with COVID in L&D, Mother Baby, Rehab and the ED. The NICU is back to being a NICU, all of our babies are back home.

Are we anticipating another surge?

I am hearing mixed messages and theories on this right now. We could have a surge as we see what happens with these new variants. We will see as things reopen but the virus still present what happens in our community too. We are ready for another surge with continued access to PPE, keeping safety measures in place, screening patients, limiting visitors and reassessing needs. We are maintaining higher than budgeted numbers of clinical staff in anticipation of increased volumes.

You participated in the Kids Town Hall this week with Dr. Ravalin the Superintendent of Visalia Unified School District. You even gave a demonstration of how to don & doff PPE. Is there anything you would like to share about that event with our staff members?

I thought the students watching really needed to see something tangible rather than listen to me talk so a year into this huddle thing, I want to try and liven things up like a good teacher and use props and demonstrations. I showed the kids what we all wear when we go into a room to care for patients with COVID because they asked how do we keep ourselves safe from COVID.

Keri, do you have a hobby that has helped you with your mental health during this pandemic?

We were doing a lot of Sequoia and Kings Canyon hiking back in the summer and fall. Now I have started writing notes to people again. I have been sending snail mail cards and letters to my aunts, uncles and grandparents. I also started writing more birthday cards to people. That keeps me busy with something fun and meaningful but not pandemic related. I also have been doing a whole lot of algebra, trigonometry, Spanish and English homework review.

Can you explain the 3-month post vaccine guidance that seems to indicate that perhaps the vaccine is not effective after 3 months? For example, CDC says you don’t have to quarantine within 3 months of receiving your second dose if you have been exposed, but you do if longer than 3 months. Does this mean that protection wanes after 3 months? What sorts of studies are taking place to track antibodies in those who have received both doses of the vaccine?

If you have received both vaccines and are two weeks past the second does, you no longer have to quarantine at home if you were exposed or live with someone who is positive. There are conflicting reports about the effectiveness of both the vaccine and the antibodies that people have once infected. I am choosing to believe the study that says the antibodies can last up to eight months.

How did the state come up with the cases per 100,000 and positivity rates that drive the tiers? How was it determined that more than 7 cases per 100,000 is widespread?

I don’t really know the answer to this question but ultimately it is the Governor of California who makes these decisions. I know he has an entire task force devoted to the pandemic and I would imagine he takes counsel from them. I do not know if other states have similar “phase” models or programs for opening and closing services and their local economy.

Are there any updates to double-masking?

Double-masking guidelines were distributed to the District on 2/25/2021. We are not requiring our staff to double-mask, but, if they choose to they need to follow the guidelines.

If you knew then what you know now and could go back to the beginning of the pandemic, is there anything you would have done differently?

If I knew everything I know now and could take that knowledge and experience back to the beginning of the pandemic, there is probably much I would do differently, beginning with a mass acquisition of PPE, medications, supplies and staff; I wouldn’t have shut down surgery so quickly for the surge that never came (until it did in July); I probably would have instituted more strict PPE and disinfection compliance with employees and providers to better protect them from contracting the virus from COVID-positive patients; and I would have been able to tell the community just how infectious and deadly this virus is and how their behaviors and habits really do work (i.e., the surge that never came after Christmas and New Year’s).

Gary, do you have a hobby that has helped you with your mental health during this pandemic?

Working in our yard, cleaning drawers and closets, and cooking more.