February 26, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Marking 1 Year of COVID-19
- Surgical Services Update
- WMC COVID-19 Unit Update
- Tools to Help Members Navigate the Vaccine Maze
- KPNW Superhero Award Winner
- Vaccination Quick Facts
Marking 1 Year of COVID-19\
A message of gratitude from Jeff Collins, president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of the Northwest; Imelda Dacones, MD, president and CEO, Northwest Permanente, P.C.; and John Snyder, DMD, executive dental director and CEO, Permanente Dental Associates, P.C.
A year ago, Westside Medical Center admitted Oregon’s first COVID-19 patient – and our lives, our families, our workplace, and our communities changed forever.
Since that diagnosis was made on February 28, 2020, we’ve witnessed the toll of COVID-19 – the trauma, turmoil, economic devastation, and heartbreaking statistics, including that, across the United States, more than 500,000 people have died.
It’s been a sobering year, but we’ve seen light within that darkness. And that light is all of you – our entire KPNW family of health plan and hospital employees, NW Permanente staff and clinicians, and Permanente Dental Associates dentists and staff. Continue reading the message here.
Surgical Services Update
The surgical and procedural services scheduling moratorium of non-medically urgent cases has been lifted. This moratorium was announced on November 23, 2020 and extended to February 28, 2021, affecting hospital-based surgical and procedural rooms, as well as limiting ASC capacity due to staff redeployment. Starting March 1, elective cases are scheduled in open rooms at all sites.
WMC COVID-19 Unit Update
Plans to dismantle and deep clean the dedicated COVID-19 Unit at WMC are underway. We have paused transfers of COVID-19 patients to WMC from other hospitals (including SMC) until we have fully developed our 1st and 2nd floor COVID-19 areas. The conversion is due to be completed no later than March 5. Please contact a member of the hospital leadership team if you have questions.
Tools to Help Members Navigate the Vaccine Maze
New resources and outreach efforts have been created to help you better serve our members and direct them to the right source for vaccine information in their community.
As vaccine supply is limited at our medical offices and each county manages supplies differently, we are encouraging our eligible members to get the COVID-19 vaccine wherever there’s availability. Information for directing Oregon and Washington residents on vaccine eligibility and locations is easily viewable in the state and county resource charts, also in the attached PDF.
Here are some other tools and work happening to help support our members:
- The Kaiser Permanente Northwest Vaccine Q&A (also in the attached PDF) now includes state and local answers to questions such as: Am I eligible to get the vaccine; and, if not, when? I’m eligible, how do I get an appointment? I’m not eligible, can I sign up to be notified when an appointment is available?
- The KP Vaccine Hotline provides a recorded message with general info: 1-855-550-0951.
- If someone has questions after listening to the recording, they will be connected to representatives at the KP National Contact Center who can provide Oregon- and Washington-specific answers and do warm transfers to NW Contact Center representatives.
- KP.org/covidvaccine/nw is the primary source for member information on COVID-19.
- KP.org/coronavirus provides “one KP” updates on testing, treatment, research, and more.
- Targeted member emails are sent each Friday, providing localized information and resources for getting a vaccine.
Governor Kate Brown extends Oregon’s state of emergency order until May 7
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday extended Oregon’s state of emergency declaration for another 60 days. It will continue until May 2. The declaration legally authorizes Brown’s COVID-19 executive orders and the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) health and safety guidance. Extending the declaration allows those orders to remain in effect.
KPNW Superhero Award Winner
Alicia Fisher, Fee and Benefit Support Specialist, Aloha Dental Office
While working at the Kaiser Permanente Grand Dental Office Alicia displayed compassion and kindness towards an individual, who happened to not be a Kaiser Permanente member. Her thoughtfulness allowed the individual, who was an amputee and stranded, to make it home safely. Read more.
The KPNW Superhero Award celebrates this excellence by recognizing the creative and collaborative ways your teammates support our company, our members, and community. Help spread the word! Post the KPNW Superhero Award flier in break rooms, and wherever teams gather for meetings / huddles and nominate your hero today!
Vaccination Quick Facts
Here is a snapshot of the most current vaccination data as of February 25. For more information on vaccination rates by age and race/ethnic group and prime and booster doses by geographic service areas, visit the COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard or see the attached PDF.
What’s New in HealthConnect?
See the latest HealthConnect Update for information about COVID-19 Coding Tips and training for the March HealthConnect update.