Employee Health
Infection Prevention- Hand Hygiene winners for Quarter 3, 2022
The Infection Prevention team would like to highlight the Hand Hygiene individual winner and units for their accomplishments!
Individuals
1st place individual winner- Kristi D. from 2 Med Peds
2nd place individual winner – Ericka H., RN from 4 Rehab
3rd place individual winner – Dr. Paul Kozak (pictured with the other IP nurse Michelle L.)
Units
1st place unit winner- 2 Med-Peds staff
2nd place unit winner- 4 Rehab staff
3rd place unit winner- 3 Tele staff
2 Additional Flu Clinics Added
We have added 2 additional flu clinics
Friday 11/4/22 10a-1p
Tuesday 11/8/22 1:30-4:30
You sign up in MyChart. Why? It allows us to do large numbers of vaccinations in shorter amounts of time, and we can move employees through quickly and not make you stand in line. For me, it’s easiest to use MyChart on my phone rather than a desktop. MyChart instructions are below. If you have received a flu shot from somewhere else, please email proof of vaccination to [email protected]
You can reach out to me at my contact info below if you have questions or difficulties.
*What happens if I don’t get the flu shot?
On 11/1/22, letters will go out to employees who remain unvaccinated and have not turned in a written declination form. You will have 2 weeks to get your vaccine or get your declination in. After that 2 weeks, employees not meeting the vaccination guideline will be placed on a working suspension and will continue on the corrective action pathway. Once employees are placed in working suspension, they risk eligibility for raises in their next evaluation.
Please sign up in My Chart to reserve your spot. Directions below. If you have received your flu shot elsewhere please email a legible copy to [email protected]
Flu documentation must include type of vaccine received along with your name and date.
Here are some important facts to know in order to receive your annual Seasonal Flu Vaccine:
1) The Employee Health Office is located in Suite 504, which can be accessed by taking the B elevators to the 5th floor. Please follow the instructions below for scheduling an appointment in MyChart. Walk-ins for the above Employee Health Vaccine clinics are not recommended.
2) The contraindications for receiving the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine are as follows:
- People with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in a flu vaccine (other than egg proteins) should not get that vaccine.
- People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine should not get that flu vaccine again and might not be able to receive other influenza vaccines.
- If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralyzing illness, also called GBS). Some people with a history of GBS should not get a flu vaccine. Talk to your doctor about your GBS history.
- If you are not feeling well, please wait until your symptoms have improved and you are fever free.
3) You may receive the Seasonal Flu Vaccine with no contraindications with a COVID Vaccine, even on the same day, as long as they are given in different anatomical locations.
4) The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine medical and strongly held belief declination forms can be found in PolicyStat, as attachments to the Influenza Vaccination Program Policy.
5) Please review the attached Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet and contact Employee Health if you have additional questions. (This is the most recent VIS from the CDC).
How to schedule your Seasonal Influenza Vaccine:
1) Log into your MyChart app or website
2) Go to “Visits”
3) Select “Schedule an Appointment”
4) Select “Employee Flu Vaccine (RHC Employees ONLY)”
5) Select a day and time
6) Verify your information
7) You must complete the field which asks what you want addressed (you can just enter “vaccine” or “shot”).
8) Confirm your appointment.
9) Prior to arriving, from your MyChart, select your scheduled appointment and eCheck-In.
10) Complete and sign the consent.
11) Present for your vaccination.
2022 Employee Influenza Vaccine Program
Employees have until 10/31 to show proof of flu vaccine.
Here are some important facts to know in order to receive your annual Seasonal Flu Vaccine:
- There are 2 dates left to select from to schedule your seasonal Influenza Vaccine in the Employee Health Office:
Tuesday 10/25/2022 from 1030-1330
Friday 10/28/2022 from 1330-1630
- The Employee Health Office is located in Suite 504, which can be accessed by taking the B elevators to the 5th floor. Please follow the instructions below for scheduling an appointment in MyChart. Walk-ins for the above Employee Health Vaccine clinics are not recommended.
- The contraindications for receiving the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine are as follows:
- People with severe, life-threatening allergies to any ingredient in a flu vaccine (other than egg proteins) should not get that vaccine.
- People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a dose of influenza vaccine should not get that flu vaccine again and might not be able to receive other influenza vaccines.
- If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralyzing illness, also called GBS). Some people with a history of GBS should not get a flu vaccine. Talk to your doctor about your GBS history.
- If you are not feeling well, please wait until your symptoms have improved and you are fever free.
- You may receive the Seasonal Flu Vaccine with no contraindications with a COVID Vaccine, even on the same day, as long as they are given in different anatomical locations.
- The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine medical and strongly held belief declination forms can be found in PolicyStat, as attachments to the Influenza Vaccination Program Policy.
- Please review the attached Influenza Vaccine Information Sheet and contact Employee Health if you have additional questions. (This is the most recent VIS from the CDC).
How to schedule your Seasonal Influenza Vaccine:
- Log into your MyChart app or website
- Go to “Visits”
- Select “Schedule an Appointment”
- Select “Employee Flu Vaccine (RHC Employees ONLY)”
- Select a day and time
- Verify your information
- You must complete the field which asks what you want to be addressed (you can just enter “vaccine” or “shot”).
- Confirm your appointment.
- Prior to arriving, from your MyChart, select your scheduled appointment and eCheck-In.
- Complete and sign the consent.
- Present for your vaccination.
UPDATE FLUBLOK doses are now currently available. We currently have Quadrivalent FluBlok doses available for persons with an egg allergy. If you have received the FluBlok dose in the past, you may schedule an appointment for an Employee Health Flu Vaccine Clinic in MyChart. When arriving, please notify the nurse vaccinator that you need a FluBlok vaccine. If you have never received a FluBlok influenza vaccine in the past, please contact Employee Health and submit documentation of your egg allergy to [email protected]. Documentation should include allergy testing, and/or a letter from your PCP.
Limited High Dose Quadravalent Influenza Vaccines are available 10/4/22 and after: We have limited availability for the Quadrivalent High Dose Flu vaccine for persons 65 years and older. We do not plan on having it available again until our Employee Health Flu Vaccine Clinic scheduled for 10/4/2022. Please post pone or schedule your Flu Vaccine for 10/4 or after if you are requesting the High Dose vaccine.
Employees in Riverside Medical Group locations:
Employees may receive their Seasonal Flu Vaccine by scheduling in MyChart for any of the above Flu Vaccine Clinic dates or may receive their Flu Vaccine in their RMG location. Separate instructions will be emailed to those locations’ leaders. The Employee Flu Vaccine Consent must be completed, and documentation of the vaccine must be completed in EPIC.
Employees in any Senior Life Community:
Employee may receive their Seasonal Flu Vaccine by scheduling in MyChart for any of the above Flu Vaccine Clinic dates or may receive their Flu vaccine at Miller Healthcare, Westwood, or Bourbonnais Grove. Please watch for communication from your leaders.
All other Locations:
Please follow the above scheduling and vaccine clinic instructions. Additional remote or mobile clinics may be considered based on available resources. Please contact Jo Kilpatrick for information at [email protected]
COVID Vaccine Policy Update
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Update: Frequently Asked Questions
What is being announced?
Based on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts, we have updated our COVID-19 vaccine requirements to allow employees in both patient-facing and non-patient facing roles to apply for and receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption. Previously, we were only allowing such exemptions for non-patient facing employees.
Why is this change being made now?
Over the past few months, we have been encouraged by a continued decline in the severity of COVID-19-related symptoms, hospitalizations and death, and we are hopeful that future variants will have even less impact on our daily lives. Our decision reflects the level of risk associated with current variants and our confidence in our ability to ease precautions while continuing to provide the highest quality of care and safest environment possible to everyone we serve. This decision was made based on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts.
Does this mean that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer required for employees?
No. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to require health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption. We will continue to comply with this requirement.
Why did Riverside initially not allow employees in patient-facing roles to get a strongly held belief exemption?
Given the high number of hospitalizations and deaths that were associated with early COVID-19 variants, we continue to believe that requiring our employees, especially those in patient-facing roles, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine allowed us to provide the highest quality of care and safest environment possible at a critical time in the pandemic.
What safety protocols will unvaccinated employees be required to follow?
Employees who receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption will be required to follow all state and federal regulations, including wearing a surgical mask while on Riverside Healthcare grounds. For testing protocols, please see the Riverside policy as requirements may change based on transmission rates.
Will employees who left because of the vaccine requirement be eligible for rehire?
Yes. We understood that this was a difficult decision for some of our employees, even those who chose to comply. We left the door open for our former colleagues to return if they met job qualifications and complied with our current policies. Any qualified applicant who complies with our policies, including our updated COVID-19 vaccine requirement is eligible for employment at Riverside.
Does leadership have any concerns about rehiring employees who made the decision to leave Riverside in response to its COVID-19 vaccine requirement?
No. This was a painful time for both those who made the decision to leave and those who continued working at Riverside. As the transition was made, we maintained a respectful and collegial environment, and we are confident we will continue to do so as we welcome back former colleagues who qualify for an open position and comply with our current policies.
Was this decision made to resolve litigation Riverside is facing regarding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate?
No. While we cannot discuss matters related to ongoing litigation, we can say that this decision was made based solely on the latest scientific data and research, recommendations by the CDC and guidance from our own team of experts.
Does Riverside Healthcare plan to contact former employees who left due to vaccine requirement to notify them of this change?
No. However, we look forward to welcoming any qualified applicant who will comply with our current policies, including our requirement to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or receive an approved medical or strongly held belief exemption.
Will Riverside revise its vaccine policy again in the future?
Riverside Healthcare will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and trends. If a future COVID-19 variant appears to result in more serious illness or a higher number of hospitalizations and deaths, we may need to revise our COVID-19 vaccine policy accordingly.
A PDF version of the FAQs can be found here.
RHFC Healthcare Month Special in May!
Riverside Health Fitness Center is waiving the enrollment fee for new sign-ups for Riverside employees to celebrate Healthcare Month in May!
Make sure to take advantage of this awesome deal!
Call (815) 929-1200 for more information.
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