June 15, 2021
In today’s update, you will find important information, including:
- Oregon’s “Logistical Masterpiece” Closes on Saturday
- Updated! FAQs to Answer Member Questions
- Clinicians Can Direct-Book COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
- COVID-19 Trends
- Vaccination Quick Facts
- Co-Administration of Vaccines
Oregon’s “Logistical Masterpiece” Closes on Saturday
The All4Oregon COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center is closing Saturday, June 19, after 151 days and more than 500,000 vaccinations.
As part of its partnership with the White House, Kaiser Permanente is going the extra mile to get 70% of Americans vaccinated by July 4. You can help by encouraging members, co-workers, family members, neighbors, and friends, to get their shots. And by getting yours, too!
The OCC was dubbed a “logistical masterpiece” in this story by Willamette Week. As part of the National Month of Action against COVID-19, people who go to the OCC for their first-dose vaccine could get one of 800 $100 gift cards from Fred Meyer. And, at the OHSU drive-thru clinic at PDX, approximately 800 Fred Meyer and Safeway gift cards will be given out (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J vaccine). Gift cards will be given out while supplies last.
Anyone who gets vaccinated at the OCC could also win a prize in KP’s ImmUNITY Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is open to anyone vaccinated by KP (members and non-members) and all vaccinated KP members, regardless of where they got vaccinated.
You can be a vaccine advocate! With only a few weeks before July 4, and fewer than 100,000 Oregonians to vaccinate, we can meet our state and national goal.
Updated! FAQs to Answer Member Questions
Two Member Service Contact Center Q&As have been updated to help answer questions from members about COVID-19. These updates to the general and vaccine versions of the COVID-19 documents are also attached. Please use these documents to replace earlier versions. New topics include:
Q: Can you tell me about the sweepstakes Kaiser Permanente has for vaccinated
people?
A: Yes. It’s called the ImmUNITY Sweepstakes and it’s open to anyone age 12 and older who has been vaccinated by Kaiser Permanente (at one of our facilities or one of the qualifying Kaiser Permanente-sponsored vaccination sites) and all vaccinated Kaiser Permanente members, even if they weren’t vaccinated by Kaiser Permanente. One thousand people will win Be Well Rewards that include wellness retreats, healthy home meal delivery, personal training equipment, gym memberships, and family trips to theme parks and national parks. This sweepstakes will encourage vaccination while also supporting a full and healthy return to activities. Kaiser Permanente members who will not be vaccinated due to a health condition or sincerely held religious belief are also eligible.
Clinicians Can Direct-Book COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
Clinicians can now book vaccinations while talking with members in the clinic or virtually. Outreach by clinicians is a key component in helping to vaccinate hesitant patients. To help ease the process, and get more members and patients vaccinated, clinicians can now directly book vaccine appointments at the end of a conversation. How? In HealthConnect, search VACC COVID in the order search to find the VACC COVID-19, 1ST DOSE APPT [259783]. Associate diagnosis of “VACCINATION FOR SARS-COV-2” and sign the order. Then click on the order clipboard (1) and then the calendar icon (2). Answer a few questions and select an appointment. That’s it!
COVID-19 Trends
From KPNW researchers, scientists, and physicians, effective June 14. Based on review of internal trends and external considerations our findings are:
- OR/WA is past 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 decline.
- Reff is plateauing below 1.0, suggesting lower cases and census moving forward.
- 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 29% from last week to this week (20.4 to 14.4). Census was 13 on June 12. ADC forecast for this week is 15 by June 20 (w. error).
- Internal ICU census weekly average was down from last week to this week (6.7 to 6.1). Internal ICU had 4 patients on June 12. ICU patients were 31% of COVID+ internal hospital census on June 12.
- KPNW COVID+ weekly average of daily cases was down 3% from last week to this week (30 to 29). Case count forecast is 19 by June 20 (w. error).
Vaccination Quick Facts
Here is a snapshot of the most current vaccination data as of June 14. KPNW health plan and hospital employees have hit 77.3%! How can we boost those numbers? Visit the COVID-19 Quick Facts Dashboard for up-to-date, key data on the virus and vaccines.
Co-Administration of Vaccines
Our guidelines last week were updated for co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other types of vaccinations. Thanks to Katie Sharff, MD, for her work with the national KP team on this issue. Read the updated guidance on the COVID-19 InfoHub here.
Weekly Testing Turnaround Times
The average routine COVID-19 testing turnaround time (TAT) for the week of June 7 to June 13 is 18 hours. Member communications, including kp.org and call center scripts, inform members that TAT is usually within 24-48 hours so they can plan accordingly for travel.
Words from Our Members
“We’re new to Kaiser Permanente Northwest after more than 30 years with Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. I don’t know how much difference COVID has impacted normal waiting times, but Kaiser Permanente Northwest is much more efficient and wait times much less than in Southern California. I’m used to always bringing a book with me, but here I barely sat down in the waiting area before I was called. EXCELLENT service here!”