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Kaiser Permanente Southern California is one of six of Los Angeles County’s largest nonprofit health systems united in a mission to encourage community members to put health first and access care when needed. The “BetterTogether.Health” educational campaign sends the message that “Life is on pause. Your health isn’t” and urges viewers to “Get care when you need it.” Delaying medical assistance and advice can result in serious and avoidable health consequences.
Getting to a hospital quickly for heart attacks, strokes, and serious illnesses or accidents is critical and saves lives. Those exhibiting serious symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness in one side of the body or severe headache should seek medical attention immediately. Additionally, scheduled vaccinations for children are important to help ensure everyone is protected from infectious diseases. The six health systems have joined to let people know they are open and ready to serve the health of the communities they serve.  Watch the public service message in English ^[2] or Spanish ^[3], and get more info at LA.BetterTogether.health ^[4].

 
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One letter and two numbers have never meant so much to so many, in so short a time. That’s because the letter and numbers are N95. Why is this item of personal protection equipment (PPE) so essential? What is the story behind PPE supplies? Learn about the complexities of the supply chain; how Kaiser Permanente is sourcing and managing PPE during this critical time; and what KPSC is doing to ensure that our future PPE needs are met. This interesting article take a deep dive into this important topic ^[6].

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Julie Miller-Phipps, president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Health Plan and Hospitals, presents her view of KP’s effective response to the COVID-19 crisis in an extensive Q & A article appearing in the Los Angeles Business Journal. The article, entitled “A View From The Pandemic’s Front Lines,” ran in the journal’s special healthcare issue. In it, Miller-Phipps addresses other topics related to the pandemic as well as issues affecting the healthcare industry as a whole. Miller-Phipps co-leads Kaiser Permanente’s expansive response to the coronavirus crisis in Southern California along with Ed Ellison, MD, executive medical director and chairman of the board, Southern California Permanente Medical Group. She takes a look back and a look forward in this interesting read. View it here ^[8].

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“Things won are done, joy’s soul lies in the doing.”
– William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida

“Joy is in the doing” is not an uncommon philosophy among those who choose a career in health care. It is certainly the belief of a Kaiser Permanente Southern California physician and nurse who did what so many KP people have done during the COVID-19 crisis: go to where the need is greatest.
For Diego Covarrubias, MD, and Michael Krider, RN, the need was not just great – it was Shakespearean in scope: when it was clear that the worst of COVID-19 was descending on New York City, Covarrubias, a lieutenant commander in the US Navy Reserve, and Krider a captain in the US Air Force Reserve, did not hesitate. Both volunteered and were in the city within days. Their stories are here. ^[11]

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A look at where we’re at, and where we’re going

In the United States, as in many parts of the world, the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve. As cases of COVID-19 rise in some areas, the rate of new infections is starting to flatten. “While we believe that, in many places, the stay-at-home orders and social distancing requirements have helped to flatten the curve of this pandemic, we are not yet out of the woods,” said David Witt, MD, national infectious disease leader at Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Witt continues to recommend a cautious and calm approach as national, state, and local agencies begin to plan for reopening. Learn about Kaiser Permanente’s response here.  ^[15]
 
 
 

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I wanted to write something to honor the people behind the scenes – the people who don’t always get the credit that nurses and doctors get. They also put their lives at risk and are always there to support us.  — Jun Huang, DO, physician-in-charge, West Covina Medical Office

Dr. Huang’s kind first-person account recognizes those he calls “a different group of heroes, who do their jobs with incredible dedication, perseverance, and care…the heroes whose work enables the work of physicians and nurses; the workers without whom our jobs would be difficult, if not impossible. Read it here. ^[17]

If you would like to share your reflections of 50-350 words on how the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted your work and/or personal life, to be featured on KP publications, please send it to: KPSC-FYI@kp.org ^[18].

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McDonald’s is offering free Thank You meals to healthcare workers and first responders. Just show your KP badge at participating McDonald’s for a breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, one per day through May 5th (or less – let’s be mindful of our nutrition!). Thanks back, McDonald’s. McDeets here ^[20].

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Kaiser Permanente Southern California is now providing one level-1 face mask daily to employees in administrative and nonpatient-facing facilities throughout the region. Masks will be distributed at the facility entrance or by an assigned person on your floor (in multi-tenant leased facilities). Masking should be used in conjunction with all other preventive actions. Details in an RComm delivered to your email inbox, 4/17, 1:46pm.

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We are truly awed and deeply appreciative of the tremendous commitment, expertise, and sacrifice shown by the people of Kaiser Permanente Southern California during the coronavirus pandemic. We recognize that these times create unique challenges. To help meet them, we are implementing supplemental benefits and pay programs, developed in partnership with our labor leaders.
These temporary COVID-19-related benefits will be available to physicians and employees actively in patient care environments. Part-time employees and per diem employees who work at least 20 hours per week are also eligible. Benefits include:

• Additional paid time off if you need to be away from work because you have tested positive for COVID-19
• Childcare grants for your school-age children or dependent disabled adult children while you are at work.
• Short-term housing near our medical centers and specialty hubs for certain situations.

For details, eligibility, and other information visit My HR ^[23] or Here4You ^[24]. Physicians will access these benefits through Permanente Human Resources Shared Services.

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We’re proud to partner with Goodwill Southern California to provide more PPE for doctors, nurses and frontline employees throughout Southern California. Goodwill’s Assembly & Fulfillment team is making 300,000 face shields, a win-win project that will help fund the employment services that Goodwill provides and keep their team working during this challenging time.

N95 Masks

• When present for or performing aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., sputum induction, bronchoscopy, open suctioning, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intubation and extubation) in patients with known or suspected COVID-19
• During other high-risk procedures (e.g., upper endoscopy, head and neck surgery) for patients who may or may not be infected with COVID-19

Surgical Masks

• For use in the surgical core and in the operating room
• May also be used in interventional radiology/cath lab and procedure rooms and when providing direct care in the sterile field

Isolation/Procedure Masks

• For use by any health care worker involved in direct patient care (inpatient or outpatient) and for use in higher COVID-19 exposure risk settings
• One mask per day should be used unless soiled

Level 1 (cover your cough) Masks

• Will be available for use in other settings not described above

Cloth Face Coverings

• Employees who work in an administrative area or regional operations location where no patient care is provided should follow the CDC’s recommendations and bring a cloth face covering or non-KP issued mask to wear during work, until KP has inventory to distribute them.

Yes. We have been developing additional methods of providing care should the surge exceed our bed capacity. We are able to transfer patients to alternative hospitals like USNS Mercy, the new LA Surge Hospital, and numerous temporary field hospitals. Further, we have converted more than 90% of our primary care appointments to virtual care. This has readied supplementary resources to meet the expected growth in needed care. Kaiser Permanente has confronted highly infectious diseases over the years, and we are confident we can safely and expertly treat coronavirus patients while maintaining the safety of our employees and physicians.

Kaiser Permanente recognizes many of the people of KP are facing significant, unprecedented challenges at work while managing sudden and traumatic changes in daily and family lives. Therefore, we are implementing temporary benefits and pay programs to assist them in caring for themselves and their families.
These temporary COVID-19-related benefits were developed in consultation with labor leaders and will be available to physicians and employees actively working in patient care environments. Part-time employees and per diem employees who work at least 20 hours per week are also eligible. Benefits include:

• Additional paid time off if you need to be away from work because you have tested positive for COVID-19
• Childcare grants for your school-age children or dependent disabled adult children while you are at work.
• Short-term housing near our medical centers and specialty hubs for certain situations.

For details, eligibility, and other information visit My HR ^[23] or Here4You. Physicians will access these benefits through Permanente Human Resources Shared Services.

Kaiser Permanente has partnered with CommonSpirit Health (formerly Dignity Health), the State of California and the County of Los Angeles to open the Los Angeles Surge Hospital. The facility is located on the campus of the former St. Vincent Medical Center in central Los Angeles. Kaiser Permanente provided marketing and operational expertise which enabled this facility to be repurposed in a remarkable two weeks time. While Kaiser Permanente Southern California will not provide physicians, staff, or equipment to the new facility, the Los Angeles Surge Hospital will expand access to additional beds and ICU capacity for patients who contract COVID-19. Get more details here ^[26].