February 16, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Thank You to All KPNW Winter Warriors!
- Weekly Testing Turnaround Times
- KPNW COVID-19 Trends
- Quarantine Guidelines
- Bookmark COVID-19 Northwest Region Page as MyKP Set to Launch February 16
Thank You to All KPNW Winter Warriors!
Some of you skied or snowshoed. Others drove around picking up and dropping off co-workers so they would be present for the day’s challenges. At hospitals, Airport Way, and other facilities, employees slept on portable cots in conference rooms and offices to be ready for their next shift – we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who went the extra mile to take care of our patients over this stormy weekend. Read a special thank you from Imelda, Jeff Collins, and John Snyder.
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (February 12-15) were designated inclement weather days. Find answers to pay practices and other questions in the Pay for Inclement Weather and Other Adverse Conditions policy. Please also review our KPNW Regional Snow and Ice Hazard policy.
- The Oregon Convention Center mass vaccination site will be open regular hours today (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.); OCC was closed Friday to Sunday and experienced a delayed start Monday (9 a.m. vs 7 a.m.). More than 9,500 patients who had Friday – Monday a.m. appointments were rescheduled and notified of their new appointment times.
Weekly Testing Turnaround Times
The average routine COVID-19 testing turnaround time (TAT) for the week of February 8 to 14 is 20 hours.
Member communications, including kp.org and call center scripts, will continue to inform members that TAT could be 48 to 72 hours so they can plan accordingly for travel.
KPNW COVID-19 Trends
From KPNW researchers, scientists, and physicians, presented February 12. Based on review of internal trends and external considerations our findings are:
- Anticipated Surge: OR/WA still in a good position in the short-term with a decreasing outbreak.
- Longer term forecasts have much uncertainty due to new variants, slow rollout of vaccines, and potential re-opening of society, schools, economy.
- In the medium-term, after accounting for uncertainty in spread of new variants, vaccine rollout, and adherence to COVID restrictions, we could see a range of impacts. Estimates for the start of the surge range from late March to late April, with an anticipated peak for both scenarios around June 1.
- Internal hospital census (ADC) weekly average was down 13% from last week to this week (26 to 22). Census was 16 on February 10. Decline is slowing; last week’s rate drop was 20%. ADC forecast for this week is 14 by February 17 (w. error).
- ICU use rate is down. Last week’s rate was 10%. Monthly averages were 13% in January and 11% for February. There were no patients in the ICU internally on February 10.
- KPNW COVID+ weekly average of daily cases was down 47% from last week to this week (82 to 43). Forecast is 41 daily cases by Feb 17 (w. error). The current daily case count is 10% of the peak count back in November.
Quarantine Guidelines
We’ve posted an updated summary with references for the various quarantine options, requirements and exclusions to the NWP Info Hub and the COVID-19 websites. Recent changes by the CDC and OHA include waiving the requirement for quarantine for contacts of COVID-19 once an individual is 2+ weeks beyond completion of their vaccine series. That would be 2 weeks beyond the 2nd dose of a two-vaccine series; or, 2 weeks beyond the 2nd dose of single dose vaccine if/when one becomes available.
Bookmark COVID-19 Northwest Region Page as MyKP Set to Launch February 16
This evening our regional InsideKP intranet site will redirect to MyKP (mykp.kp.org). Because things will look a bit different in MyKP, be sure to bookmark the COVID-19: Northwest Region page to ensure you can quickly find the COVID related resources you need.
Quick Facts: Vaccinations
Vaccination data is now included on the COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard.
Save the Date |Next Live Audio Broadcast is February 23
Plan on joining the next LIVE audio broadcast Tuesday, February 23, starting at 12:10 p.m.
Submit your questions or suggestions for future audio broadcast topics.
Words from Our Members
“During the pandemic the job the medical community has provided has been outstanding. I’m sure the resources have been strained to the limits while still being able to accomplish their missions. I appreciate the compassion shown to vulnerable patients and a sometimes confused public.”