Huddle Sheet

TODAY’S COVID-19 INFORMATION
NEW: Epidemiology Data and Notes

NEW: Denver Health Staff Vaccination Numbers

NEW: Guidance for patients with anaphylaxis

NEW: PPE update

NEW: Extra availability for employee vaccinations tomorrow

REMINDER: Messaging on availability of vaccines for non-Denver Health patients

REMINDER: Employee testing

REMINDER: Messaging for employees who have not signed up for the vaccine

REMINDER: Side effects of COVID-19 Vaccine and Coming to Work - Clarification

REMINDER: Vaccine Symptoms and PTO

What You Need to Know

As of 8:00 a.m. today, Denver Health had 25 inpatient COVID-19 cases (-4yesterday).

For more information, please visit the Denver Public Health COVID-19 Data Summary (please use Edge or Chrome). The website is updated daily and contains data on cases, hospitalization, deaths, testing and symptom monitoring.

NEW: Denver Health Staff Vaccination Numbers

These vaccination numbers were updated at 4:30 pm Jan. 13.

4,990 employees and residents have received their first dose of vaccine.
2,765 employees and residents have scheduled their second dose of vaccine.
736 employees and residents are on the upcoming schedules for first doses.
1,410 employees and residents have active MyChart accounts and have scheduling tickets, but have not scheduled a first dose yet.
389 employees and residents have not activated their MyChart accounts yet.

NEW: First dose vaccinations – additional availability tomorrow for staff

There is additional vaccination availability tomorrow for staff members who have not yet received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a vaccine, you can do one of the following:

Schedule an appointment via MyChart

If you have not already scheduled your first dose, login to your MyChart account and request an appointment.
If you have a vaccination appointment already scheduled, and wish to change and sign up for one for Thursday, please cancel your existing appointment first and then schedule a new time today via MyChart.
If you don’t have a MyChart account, follow the instructions to set up a MyChart account.

Call the Appointment Center

If you do not have a MyChart account, or have issues in making or changing an appointment in MyChart, please call the Appointment Center on 303-436-4949 (select option 5), if you wish to schedule a vaccination for tomorrow.

Vaccination location and time

· Where: Sabin Room in the basement of Pav C on the main campus.

· When: Thursday Jan. 14, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Important information

Please ensure you wear a mask, have your Denver Health ID badge with you and follow social distancing guidelines.
Please ensure you clear any absence with your supervisor.

NEW: Guidance for patients with a history of anaphylaxis

The Medical-Technical team has updated guidance for patients who have a history of anaphylaxis. Please see the documents below for updated policies.

· COVID-19 Vaccination of Individuals with History of Anaphylaxis
https://denverhealth.policystat.com/policy/9117359/latest/

· COVID-19 Management of Anticipated Vaccine Reactions
https://denverhealth.policystat.com/policy/9069901/latest/

REMINDER: Message on availability of vaccines for non-Denver Health patients

We continue to receive inquiries about the availability of vaccinations for non-Denver Health patients who are in a high-priority group. Denver Health updated its communication today and this has been posted to our website.

“Following State guidelines, we are currently offering vaccines to Denver Health patients age 70 and older with an established patient history. We are also working on a process to offer vaccinations to all residents of the City and County of Denver age 70 and older who are not currently Denver Health patients. This is a complex and fast-changing situation and we would ask for patience. We appreciate there is great demand in our community, but this is happening at the same time as we are vaccinating frontline, essential health care workers and public safety partners. The prioritization of who will receive the vaccine is determined by the State Health Department and the Governor’s Office, and we continue to update our vaccine plans in response to changing State guidelines. To find out more information about COVID-19 vaccination at Denver Health, we ask that you visit our Coronavirus Resources webpage frequently; content will be updated according to changes in state guidelines. As we develop clear guidance for vaccinating people who are non-Denver Health patients age 70 and older, we will announce details publicly.”

REMINDER: Employee Testing

Denver Health now has a MyChart Symptom Curbside COVID-19 Test Symptom Checker and Scheduling Tool. This tool was built to allow our patients to schedule their COVID tests electronically if they meet criteria and do not need urgent evaluation. Denver Health employees should NOT use this scheduling option but should continue to use the RedCaps Survey to schedule your test. Tests scheduled through RedCaps are prioritized. If you test using MyChart, your Test appointment and/or results may be significantly delayed.

NEW: PPE inventory update

Logistics continues to monitor both Core COVID-19 PPE levels on-hand, and in the market, on a daily basis. We invite any and all conversations with frontline staff on reusable PPE. This conversation with your department will bring us stability and predictability in terms of quality and supply. On 1/13/21, we negotiated significant access to 13 different masks with our primary distributor and will take this opportunity to “top-off” safety stock not just in Disaster Stock but in the OR as well. As we ramp-up our vaccination efforts, Logistics is acting as the distribution intermediary between the clinical staff, operations staff, and vendors so we have the full complement of vaccination supplies in every location, every day, to vaccinate at the rate we intend. With regard to vaccination inventory sourcing, we have been able to put over 16,000 1ml syringes into inventory which allow us to make use of all of the doses in the “overfilled” vials of vaccine. To accompany those, we actively sourcing and buying 25GX1” and 25Gx1.5” safety needles.

REMINDER: Side effects of COVID-19 Vaccine and Coming to Work – Clarification

Common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include fever, chills, headaches, pain at the injection site and fatigue. After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, you may consider taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs to try and minimize the potential side effects. If you develop these side effects, you may still come to work wearing appropriate PPE.

The screening questions you are required to answer prior to coming to work will be modified to include language specific to having received the COVID-19 vaccine. However, because these symptoms can also be consistent with COVID-19 infection, if the symptoms last longer than 48 hours after vaccination or if you develop any new respiratory symptoms (rhinorrhea, cough, shortness of breath) or other COVID-19 symptoms (sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell) after vaccination, you will need to either leave work or stay home from work and complete the Employee Survey to determine if COVID-19 testing is needed.

REMINDER: Vaccine Symptoms and PTO

Employees who need to take time off due to normal COVID vaccine side effects, whether that be the day after the first dose or the day after the second dose, can do so under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA).

In order to have this time covered under HFWA, employees or their supervisors need to code the time as D_ILL, and complete the HFWA application. This means PTO may be used at first and will be given back once the application is processed.

The application needs to be returned to the Leave of Absence office at LOAFMLProcess@dhha.org as soon as possible after the leave is taken. Employees who have already taken the maximum amount of time eligible under the HFWA (2 weeks of leave) will be given one additional day of leave to cover this absence. Any absences beyond that will be covered by PTO or go unpaid.

Additionally, the day of leave following the employee receiving the COVID-19 vaccine only applies to DH employees. Contractors need to work through their staffing agency for Healthy Families and Workplaces leave.

Helpful Links:

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Vaccine for Coloradans

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Coronavirus Information

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Coronavirus Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Information

Denver Public Health Website

Denver Health Visitor Policy

Please email COVID-19@dhha.org with any questions.

Denver Health COVID-19 Resources:

COVID-19 Staff Resources section on our website

Staff Screening and Testing FAQ

Coronavirus Share Point site