Update: July 26, 2021

–FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATION ONLY–

Thought of the Day: “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”—Booker T. Washington

NOHS COVID-19 Stats

Tested 30,524 (up 365 since July 23)
4,285 positive test results (up 115 since July 23)
1,226 patients recovered (up 21 since July 23)
Overall positivity rate is 14%, and for July, our positivity rate is running at 28%.
- NOMC:
  - 76 hospitalized (up 16 since July 23)
  - 15 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (up 9 since July 23)
  - 4 deaths since July 23
- NORH: 18 patients (0 COVID-19 positive); 3-4 possible patient admissions
- Hood: 15 Patients (1 COVID-19 positive); 4 employees out monitoring

Staffing and Volume

We have activated our COVID response contingency plans in light of our sobering numbers:
- MICU 2 was opened last night at 7 p.m. with one patient as of 10 a.m. this morning and capacity to take up to 6 patients. Thank you to all staff members involved in setting up and opening up MICU 2 and to the CRNAs, OR and PACU employees who will be staffing it.
- The ER is currently boarding 14 patients, and we are on full emergency, critical care and hospital diversion.
- Trauma surgeons and trauma advanced care practitioners are assisting with Critical Care and in the Emergency Department. Anesthesiologists are assisting Critical Care physicians too.
- As of 10 a.m. this morning, 7 beds on Medicine Unit I were opened for use as an ER Infusion Unit for COVID-19 positive patients. Same Day Surgery personnel will staff the ER Infusion Unit from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
- We have suspended non-emergent elective and same day surgeries and procedures at North Oaks Medical Center (inclusive of the Interventional Radiology, OR, Endoscopy and Cath Lab). We will make decisions about next week’s schedule on Thursday, July 29.
- Note: The Surgery Center remains open to care for some surgery patients at this time. In addition, Chief Medical Officer Robert Peltier, MD, Assistant Chief Medical Officer Jherie Ducombs, MD, NOMC Chief of Staff Marquinn Duke, MD, and Surgery Department Chairman Jacques Peltier, MD, are working closely with the Medical Staff to determine surgeries and procedures that will be able to move forward or not.
Unless urgently necessary, all meetings – in particular committee meetings – are suspended effective immediately until further notice so that we may put our full focus on COVID response.
Visitation guidelines that became effective July 22 remain in force. Non-COVID-19 patients may have one visitor with exceptions made for pediatric patients and laboring mothers. COVID-19 positive patients may only have visitors in end-of-life situations. Our team is providing updates to families twice daily for patients not allowed to have visitors. See the full policy on OakLink.
Chief Nursing Officer Kirsten Riney reports that staffing remains extremely tight, but help is on the way as many nurses are currently in Orientation. This is a fluid situation, but current contingencies include: unit managers in staffing; OR nursing staff assisting on the floors; PACU nurses and CRNA’s assisting with staffing MICU 2; Same Day Surgery staff assisting on the floors and with the ER Infusion Unit; Rehab Techs and Therapists working on the floors as mobility techs; Athletic Trainers deployed to supplement on the floors; Physician Group Clinic staff supplementing on the floors; and Physician Group Nurse Practitioners serving as Resource Nurses. In addition, we appreciate all non-patient care departments who have shared their nursing clinical staff with the floors!
Senior leadership continues to work to identify staff willing to assist in the hospital as COVID-10 numbers continue to rise. If you are willing to work additional hours to help out, please speak with your leader.
The House Supervisor will coordinate all supplemental staffing needs for nursing units based on a staffing matrix developed by Human Resources and the President/CEO.
Chief Financial Officer Mark Anderson and Vice President of Finance Will Branson report that we have more than enough supplies even at the increased utilization rate. We have enough PPE on hand, and for some supplies, we have more than a year’s worth. To curtail unnecessary stockpiling, effective immediately as part of COVID-19 response contingency plans, we are reinstating the requisition process and OakLink form used during the previous high-volume COVID-19 period. Requisitions for isolation gowns, isolation masks, N95 masks and purple top wipes have already been disabled in Infor. As a bridge, supplies of these four items are available in the Nursing Conference Room for sign out. We appreciate the Material Services staff who came in over the weekend to stock up supplies for MICU 2.
Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Jarreau reports Employee Wellness has returned 13 employees back to work since July 23 leaving 43 out monitoring symptoms at home (4 RNs; 0 respiratory therapists). As of today, 40% of North Oaks employees are fully vaccinated, and 43% are partially vaccinated. The COVID-19 breakthrough case rate is 2.9% among employees, which is relatively low when compared to CDC breakthrough rate data. It’s not too late to get vaccinated. If you have vaccine-related questions, Dr. Peltier is happy to provide you with evidence-based answers. You can contact Dr. Peltier at ext. 7755 or via email at peltierr@northoaks.org.
Outpatient diagnostics and clinics, including walk-ins, remain business as usual at this time.

Infection Prevention

Dr. Robert Peltier reminds everyone that masking is mandated by the Louisiana Department of Health in health care settings to prevent the spread of disease. Whether you are vaccinated or not is inconsequential when the incidence rate is as high as it is in our region. Any patient refusing to mask while waiting to be seen should be asked to mask or wait in their vehicle until it is their time to be seen. Those that refuse this option should be advised to seek care elsewhere for their protection and the protection of other patients and our staff.
Infection Prevention Manager Amanda Morse reminds everyone that PPE supplies on nursing units are for use by anyone supplying bedside care, including ancillary and support staff.
- With respect to MICU 2, please refer to the Infection Prevention documents of “IP Guidance and Recommendations for New Cohort ICU- MICU 2” and “Infection Prevention Guidance for Bedside Caregiver Extended Exposure Plan” in the OakLink COVID-19 Toolkit. The extended exposure guidance applies to anyone at bedside, including sitters, with the potential for extended exposure when caring for COVID-19 patients.
- If you have any questions about specific recommendations or concerns, please contact Infection Prevention Manager Amanda Morse at ext. 6414 or Infection Prevention Nurse Ashley Foster at ext. 6440.

Public Relations/Communications

Last Friday, July 23, push cards featuring a QR code linking to the vaccine scheduling portal of covidvaccine.northoaks.org were distributed at all North Oaks facility visitor entrances and brochure racks to encourage vaccinations. To replenish the supply of this push card in your area, please contact Marketing at ext. 6647.

Together, we are unstoppable, and we will get through this! Thank you for all that you are doing to care for our patients and each other!