June 1, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Now Available: Digital, Printable COVID-19 Vaccine Cards
- Patients No Longer Required to Get Dose 2 from Dose 1 Provider
- KPNW COVID-19 Trends
- Enhancing Your Well-Being
Now Available: Digital, Printable COVID-19 Vaccine Cards
When patients request copies of their COVID-19 vaccine card, there are now 3 easy ways for them to get a COVID-19 vaccine record. You can generate one on-demand – right from HealthConnect. Use .COVIDVACCINECARD to add it to the After-Visit Summary or use COVID VACCINE CARD LTR NW to generate a letter, which is printable from kp.org. Just make sure COVID-19 vaccines are reconciled so they appear on the digital card. To reconcile outside vaccines, see the article on Reconciling Outside Immunizations in What’s New in HealthConnect. Members can also print from home by signing on to kp.org, clicking “medical record,” “immunizations,” then “Print a COVID-19 vaccination record card.”
Patients No Longer Required to Get Dose 2 from Dose 1 Provider
As of Friday, May 28, we may give a COVID-19 booster (2nd dose) shot to anyone who asks to appoint with us. Patients who need COVID-19 booster shots had previously been asked to return to the provider who gave them their prime (1st dose) shot. We have made this change because we have sufficient supply.
KPNW COVID-19 Trends
From KPNW researchers, scientists, and physicians, effective May 28. Based on review of internal trends and external considerations our findings are:
- OR/WA has emerged from the latest surge. After plateauing for several weeks, statewide hospital census has followed the trend in cases and has dropped over the past week; KPNW census has continued to plateau.
- Reff (effective reproduction number) has continued to decrease, suggesting lower cases and census moving forward.
- The P1 variant has emerged and is starting to spread in Oregon, particularly among unvaccinated individuals.
- Increased variant spread and rapid reopening may lead to a slower decline in new cases than would otherwise be expected, but at this point, further surges are unlikely due to continued increases in vaccination.
- Internal hospital census (ADC) weekly average was down 11% from last week to this week (28.0 to 25.0). Census was 26 on May 27. ADC forecast for this week is 25 by June 3 (w. error).
- Internal ICU census weekly average was flat from last week to this week (7.7 to 7.7). Internal ICU had 8 patients on May 27. ICU patients were 31% of COVID+ internal hospital census on May 27.
- KPNW COVID+ weekly average of daily cases was down 39% from last week to this week (66 to 41). Case count forecast is 13 by June 3 (w. error).
Vaccination Quick Facts
Here is a snapshot of the most current vaccination data as of May 28. Visit the newly enhanced COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard for up-to-date, key data on the virus and vaccines. (Note: Our vaccination reporting has expanded to include children ages 12-15. With this change, you’ll notice that overall member vaccination rates decreased slightly from recent reporting. This is because we increased the eligible population by including this age group.)
Enhancing Your Well-Being
Consider taking our Mental Health Training for employees and managers. It provides information and tools for maintaining your own mental health and recognizing and supporting others who might be struggling. For added support, join KP’s Mental Health Advocate Network, which enables employees to help create a supportive workplace environment. Advocates have access to tools, resources, and activities they can share with their teams.
Inspire Well-being – Enter the Weekly Drawing
Healthy Workforce wants to recognize employees who are doing a great job of improving mental health and well-being for themselves or inspiring their co-workers. Enter into a weekly drawing. Winners will be selected weekly through the month of May to receive a gift that promotes self-care. Below is one of the winning entries:
Natalie Rasmussen, Mental Health Advice RN
“I am making certain I am providing self-care by doing an activity each day that brings me joy. I am making sure to do the things we all know to do, like eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep and exercise but also planning ahead (being proactive in scheduling a date) to participate in mood-boosting activities such as meeting a friend for a walk at a park. I have been checking in with friends regularly to be a support to them during the pandemic. Being a RN in Mental Health has taught me that I need to practice good self-care so that I can take care of others.”
KP News: 5 Things We Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccines are a critical part of slowing, and eventually stopping, the spread of COVID-19. With news about the vaccines changing rapidly, Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing members and the communities we serve with information as it’s available. Read the story published May 18 on About KP.
KPNW in the News: Easing the Post-Pandemic Transition for Kids
As kids return to school, sports, summer camps, and other routines after a year of isolation, Dr. Brandon Duft, a child psychiatrist and head of Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, explains what parents should be aware of and shares steps they can take to help smooth the transition. A story ran in the May 24 issue of Portland Monthly and is posted here on My KP. https://mykp.kp.org/en/news/northwest/easing-the-post-pandemic-transition-for-kids.html
Words from Our Members
“This was the first time I met Dr. Mahmood. He was easy to talk with, understood my concerns regarding my aging body, and he made me very comfortable in determining how I should care for my ankle. Thank you all for being there for us in these strange COVID times!”