January 8, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
- Letter Posted for Members Traveling Within 90 Days of Positive Test
- Mail Order Pharmacy Reminder for Patients During COVID-19
UPDATE: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
Our leaders have new information to share concerning the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. As we shared this week during our audio broadcast, we will soon open up COVID-19 vaccination scheduling to all employees. Nearly 85 percent of KPNW employees have received an appointment ticket. The timeline to open vaccine scheduling to the remaining 15 percent of employees is shifting to next week, to ensure fair and equitable vaccine distribution and remain aligned with Oregon and Washington public health prioritization guidance. We anticipate a very short postponement and will provide an update early next week.
Yesterday afternoon, we activated the KPNW Vaccine Command Center to achieve COVID-19 herd immunity in the NW region as rapidly as possible. Led by Michelle Teeples and Eric Warshaw, MD, the command center team will enable KPNW to:
- Maximize throughput at all vaccine locations with appropriate quality and safety
- Serve as an active community leader and partner in vaccinating the community
- Iterate rapidly
Plan on joining the next LIVE audio broadcast Tuesday, January 12, starting at 12:10 p.m. You cansubmit your questions here.
Letter Posted for Members Traveling Within 90 Days of Positive Test
CDC does not recommend testing again in the three months after a positive viral test, as long as the person does not have COVID-19 symptoms. If a person has had a positive viral test in the past 3 months, and has met the criteria to end isolation, that person should travel with a copy of their test results and a letter from their doctor or health department that states they have been cleared for travel. Find all KP COVID letters in HealthConnect’s Letters Activity and search for COVID. Choose the COVID-19 Release from Isolation Travel Letter.
Mail Order Pharmacy Reminder for Patients During COVID-19
Mail order rates are slipping, which means more patients are coming into our medical office buildings (MOBs). Please remind patients to utilize mail order and home delivery options for prescriptions they don’t need urgently. Mail order is faster and easier for patients and helps them avoid visiting a MOB. See this guide from Pharmacy for more benefits and talking points to share with your patients.
Situation Update
Note: The COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard has been updated to include vaccination data.
