December 4, 2020
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Answers to Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine,
- Isolation or Quarantine: What’s the Difference?/Updated CDC Quarantine Guidelines,
- Monoclonal Antibody Products,
- Check Testing Guidelines Regularly, and
- What’s New in Healthconnect?
Live Audio Broadcast | Latest COVID-19 Updates from the KPNW Command Center
Join this LIVE audio broadcast Monday, December 7, from 12:10 to 1 p.m.
Get the latest COVID-19 updates from the KPNW Regional Command Center:
- COVID Incident Commanders Situation Update
- COVID-19 Surge Planning
- Vaccine Preparations
- PPE Works
For more information, review the audio broadcast flyer
Situation Update
Answers to Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine
KP National has created a COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ to help answer employee and member questions about the vaccine.
Isolation or Quarantine: What’s the Difference?/Updated CDC Quarantine Guidelines
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home, to prevent the spread of infection.
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others to prevent the spread of infection.
New Options for Length of Quarantine for Asymptomatic Persons
CDC updated its guidelines for asymptomatic persons to include 2 additional options that shorten the duration of quarantine after exposure to a COVID-19 positive person. CDC currently recommends a 14-day quarantine when possible. However, the new options allow for a reduced length of quarantine based on local resources and availability of testing for people who have been exposed.
CDC now recommends quarantine for exposed asymptomatic persons can end:
- 10 days after the last exposure without testing
- 7 days after last exposure with a negative test result. Test can be collected no sooner than 5 days after last exposure.
After stopping quarantine, people should
- Watch for the development of symptoms until 14 days after exposure.
- If they have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact their healthcare provider.
KPNW Health Care Personnel (HCP) quarantine and return to work guidelines have not changed. Review the CDC When to Quarantine site.
Recently, the FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for two monoclonal antibody products to treat COVID-19, bamlanivimab and the casirivimab/imdevimab combination (Regeneron). They are for outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness. Both products are in short supply and allocated by the state.
There is limited published data and experience with these agents and efficacy data are limited and marginal. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) do not recommend the use of these products outside of a clinical trial. A comprehensive review of these treatments by our KPNW Infectious Disease physicians and pharmacists have led us to the same conclusion. We will continue to monitor for updated evidence on these and similar monoclonal antibody therapies that may be useful for ambulatory patients with mild to moderate infection.
We understand that many patients are inquiring about these agents. We have developed the following dotphrase — Monoclonal Antibody Request — in the .COVID master phrase under miscellaneous — to help support you in these conversations with members.
Dotphrase language:
We understand you are interested in one of the available intravenous (IV) monoclonal antibody therapies recently approved by the FDA for emergency use. Most people infected with COVID-19 recover fully and do not need hospitalization. Currently, there is not enough evidence that either of these therapies help patients avoid hospitalizations or get better sooner. We also do not yet fully know how safe they are. Kaiser Permanente supports the further study of these treatments in research settings. We are not offering them in our medical facilities at this time.
Monoclonal Antibody Products
We will continue to monitor for updated evidence on these and similar monoclonal antibody therapies that may be useful for ambulatory patients with mild to moderate infection.
Check Testing Guidelines Regularly
Due to increased demand for testing, changes could be made to testing criteria on a daily basis. Please check the KPNW Ambulatory COVID-19 Testing Locations and Guidelines regularly for the most current information; it will continue to be the single source of truth.
What’s New in Healthconnect?
December 4 | See the latest edition for several important COVID19 related updates:
- Proper Use of COVID-19 Related Medication Ordering
- NEW! COVID Status Will Show on Storyboard in Chart Review
- Quickly Find Information About Why Your Patient Received a COVID Test
- Outstanding Radiology Orders from Earlier in the Year Will be Cancelled
- HealthCare Anywhere (HCA) Mobile to Replace IVVtoGo!
If You Have Not Already Done So, Get Your Flu Shot Today
Your health is important to us. Visit a designated retail pharmacy, by December 31, and KP will cover the cost of the vaccination. Visit Kp.org to find a retail pharmacy location near you. View more employee flu vaccination options.