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Update: July 21, 2020

To follow is the COVID-19 Update for Tuesday, July 21, 2020:

  • Thank you for the great job you are doing! None of us expected a pandemic — let alone for it to last this long. It is definitely a marathon — not a sprint. Trust that your efforts and hard work are appreciated and noticed. You are truly making a difference as the following words from a patient and a patient’s father show:
  • One of our hospitalized COVID-19 patients called Administration to share that from the moment he walked into the hospital, everyone he has come in contact with has been kind and helpful. He wants everyone in the community to know that if they have a bad opinion of North Oaks, they need to give us another chance as he is so impressed with our team and the care he is receiving.
  • A patient’s son wrote Administration to share his heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the MICU staff: “Knowing that my father was cared for in his final moments has given me much-needed peace about his passing. Thank you for going out of your way to make my family feel comfortable during each visit to the ICU. I’m so grateful for the kindness and compassion of the following staff members: Drs. Arvind Yertha and Wesley Cook; Staff Registered Nurses Olivia Davis and Heather Shoultz; Charge Nurse Brad Webb; and Clinical Nurse Manager Bess Himel.”
  • COVID-19 stats reported to date for Louisiana:
    • 94,892 confirmed positive cases
    • 3,462 deaths
    • 1,508 hospitalized patients
    • 192 patients on vents
  • COVID-19 stats reported to date for North Oaks:
    • 1,333 positive tests out of 7,583 tests performed with results for 244 tests outstanding
    • 289 patients successfully recovered
    • NOMC: 32 COVID-19 positive patients with 6 on vents and 2 deaths since July 16
    • NORH: 17 patients with 1 COVID-19 positive patient
    • Hood: 15 patients with 2 COVID-19 positive patients
  • On Friday, July 17, we performed 41 drive-thru COVID-19 tests. Yesterday, 29 individuals received drive-thru tests. With testing volumes trending down, we plan to close drive-thru testing effective Thursday, July 23 and accommodate patients in need of testing with appointments at the Diagnostic Center and Walk-In Clinics.
  • The Governor will host a press conference 2:30 p.m. today. If the information he provides cannot wait to be disseminated as part of our regular Thursday, July 23 update, we will issue a follow-up email today.
  • Reminders:
    • Masks must be worn at all times in our facilities. Masks may not be removed at nurses’ stations. Masks can be removed if you are alone in a private office with the door closed or in a break room if you are actively eating. However, no more than three people are allowed in a break room at one time.
    • Keep wiping down high-touch surfaces frequently.
  • Chief Medical Officer Rob Peltier, MD, shared promising news on the vaccine front. There are 23 vaccines currently in clinical trials. The big news in the past week has been that two vaccines — Moderna and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine — are moving in to phase three clinical trials. Assuming that phase three clinical trials go well, we should have plenty of vaccine available by 2021. In phase three clinical trials, tens of thousands of people will receive vaccine to verify that the vaccine does indeed create immunity and to identify any side effects. These factors are difficult to discern in phase two trials because only a thousand or so individuals receive vaccine. Lancet published a study yesterday confirming that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine not only provides antibody response, but also t-cell response. T-cell response is more likely to provide long-term immunity. If all goes well, Oxford-AstraZeneca will have 2 billion doses ready by the end of 2020 of which the U.S. has purchased 300 million doses. Assuming phase three trials do not show any serious side effects and what has been seen in phase two trials is replicated in phase three trials, we could see a vaccine in early 2021. This is the light at the end of the tunnel we need to move reopening phases forward and lead to herd immunity. All of these things are dependent upon a vaccine.
  • The Marketing team is working to finalize a “Visitor Guidelines” handout to be distributed to hospital visitors at the point of entry when they have their temperature taken and check in. While visiting hours will remain the same of 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., the handout will encourage visitors to limit visitation to 2 hours/day. It also will reinforce that they must wear masks at all times on our premises or risk being asked to leave if they are found not wearing their mask.
  • Population Health reports all is well.
  • Supplies are adequate.
  • Walk-In Clinic volumes continue to increase.
  • Outpatient services remain steady.
  • We continue to monitor bed capacity and reserve the right to suspend elective surgeries if thresholds are exceeded. Take note that there is a tropical disturbance in the Atlantic that has a 40% chance of entering the Gulf. If you have not done so already, now is the time to double-check your hurricane boxes and supplies. Make sure flashlights have working batteries and that you have everything you need.
  • The Diagnostic Center elevator will be down for repair for approximately 4-6 weeks. Please be mindful of this and plan to use the stairs to access the second floor.
  • With limited visitation continuing from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., communication with families remains vitally important. If you have questions or need support with respect to visitation and family communication, CNO Kirsten Riney, CMO Rob Peltier, COO Michael Watkins, Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Jarreau and President/CEO Michele Sutton are available to assist you.
  • Employee Wellness reports returning 18 employees to work yesterday. We have 73 employees out monitoring symptoms at home of which 14 are nurses. If you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, please call Employee Wellness at ext. 5717 to be triaged and receive guidance on next steps. If you get tested, you must stay home to monitor symptoms until you receive test results. Please remember to inform Employee Wellness of your status, and get cleared to return to duty.
  • Staffing remains very tight. Yesterday, we faced extreme staffing shortages, and our nurses on the floor really stepped up to cover the shortfalls. Thank you to our nursing staff and nursing leadership teams for putting the needs of patients first!
  • Continue to track and submit your manual COVID-19 timesheets!