April 29, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- The OCC COVID-19 Vaccination Site: a “Logistical Masterpiece”
- Audio Broadcast Recording and Summary
- Vaccine Appointments: What’s New on KP.org
- KPNW Superhero Award Winners
- RN Career Ladder Update
The OCC COVID-19 Vaccination Site: a “Logistical Masterpiece”
Willamette Week praises the mass COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center. Read the full article here.
Our COVID-19 Regional Command Center co-commanders congratulated everyone who has worked so hard to make the All4Oregon site a reality. Since it was set up nearly overnight in January, we’ve vaccinated hundreds of thousands of members and nonmembers.
“I am so proud of all the people from HP, NWP, and PDA who participated in creating and running this masterpiece,” said Mary Giswold, MD. “Our leaders truly shined. The people of KP showed up in droves to volunteer.”
From Wendy Watson: “It has been a career highlight to see so many people come together in record time to launch and then fine-tune this operation to the state of being called a “logistical masterpiece.” This could not have happened without the collaboration of the 4 health systems, National Guard, FEMA, OHA, Governor’s Office, and many volunteer organizations. We have much to be proud of.”
Audio Broadcast Recording and Summary
Thank you to all who were able to join Tuesday’s live audio broadcast. If you missed it or want to review and discuss key topics with your team:
Listen to the audio recording (password: kpnw2021). Use the timestamps to jump immediately to specific topics. Topics discussed on April 27:
- Welcome and Community Update | Dr. Mary Giswold (00:00 – 04:15)
- Mental Health Focus: Fear & Vaccine Hesitancy | Margaret Keicher (04:16 – 14:27)
- Clinical Vaccine Update | Dr. Katie Sharff (14:28 – 28:44)
- KP Vaccine Update | Dr. Eric Warshaw (28:45 – 36:08)
- Close | Dr. Mary Giswold (36:09 – 38:15)
Review a summary of the April 27 discussion.
Our next scheduled live audio broadcast is May 11. In the meantime, submit your questions to the COVID19NW@kp.org mailbox.
Vaccine Appointments: What’s New on KP.org?
Today, two patient-centered enhancements are live on kp.org/covidvaccine/nw:
- Do you have a vaccine preference? This question is now part of the decision tree KP.org visitors experience when checking for available COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Preferences include Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, or ‘no preference.’
- Oregon residents can now schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at a KP medical office in Southwest Washington. When checking availability, the SW WA medical offices will now be included as a scheduling option.
Note: Prior direction was to only allow those who lived or worked in a specific state to get vaccinated in that state. This was to help manage supply. This change does not apply to Washington residents who do not work in Oregon, as supply is now more limited in Oregon.
KPNW Superhero Award Winners
Individual Award: Pam Commodore, Clinical Services Manager, Addiction Medicine Department
During a year of change and shifting, Pam was able to champion several projects that address health disparities for people with mental health and substance use conditions. Read more.
Team Award: Kaiser Permanente Northwest Hospice Volunteer Program
The Kaiser Permanente Northwest Hospice Volunteer Program includes 76 trained volunteers. Their spirit of volunteering is borne from a genuine desire to give comfort, peace, and care to patients and families during the end of life. 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!
RN Career Ladder Update
OFNHP and KP management have been working in collaboration to continue to support RNs who go above and beyond in their professional development and nursing practice responsibilities via participation of the RN Career ladder.
The career ladder review process has been temporarily on hold to allow RNs and nursing leaders to focus on COVID-19-related activities. Due to the ongoing focus on COVID-19-related activities, labor and management are evaluating the possibility of another suspension of RN Career Ladder reviews.
While details are being worked out, this is what you need to know:
- For RNs who are due to submit maintenance applications in May, hold off on your submission efforts. More information will be sent in coming weeks.
- For those of you who submitted new attainment (level 2) and level up (level 3) applications in 2020 or Q1 2021, you can expect to receive details on when to anticipate application review and differential back pay, if your application is approved.
Vaccination Quick Facts
Here is a snapshot of the most current vaccination data as of April 28. Visit the newly enhanced COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard for up-to-date, key data on the virus and vaccines.
