2022 Walk to End Alz
Join Team Riverside in The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Saturday September 17th. Together, we’ll walk and raise funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. And together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease.
Get ready for an inspiring and safe Walk day with the information below.
Parking and Walk route information:
The Walk will be located at Kankakee Community College and the route is about a mile long.
Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the event site.
Event schedule:
Venue Open & Start of Festivities: 8:30am
Promise Garden Ceremony: 9:30am
Walk Day FAQ:
All participants should register prior to Walk day at alz.org/walk.
All children must be registered.
Strollers, wheelchairs and wagons are welcome.
The Walk route and festivities are outdoors — please plan accordingly.
Donations will be taken on Walk day via mobile payment and cash/check dropbox.
Be sure to wear your purple and carry your Walk flags! Take a selfie or photo of your team and post on social media using #Walk2EndALZ and #ENDALZ.
Join us at the kick-off event on August 12 at Westwood Senior Living in Kankakee!
September is Primary Care Month
Finding the right Riverside Primary Care Provider and learning about the annual screenings needed to keep you and your family healthy is extremely important. This year Riverside is celebrating Primary Care Month with some fun events! Check out the details below!
Events
Thursday, September 8th 6-7pm:
Public Health Event – Managing Stress: A Guide for Better Health
Join primary care provider, Syeda Farheen Ali, MD as she discusses ways to minimize the effects stress can have and how to live better.
This event will be held at the Kankakee Train Depot. There is no cost to attend. Refreshments will be served. Attendees will have the chance to enter into a drawing for a free one-year Riverside Health Fitness Center Membership and a $100.00 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card.
To register visit riversidehealthcare.org/events
Saturday, September 10th 9am:
Kankakee Farmers’ Market
Riverside will be at the Kankakee farmers’ market with WVLI doing a radio remote including lots of spin wheel giveaways and information on Riverside primary care.
Tuesday, September 20th 6-7pm:
Public Health Event – Managing Diabetes
Join primary care provider, Elizabeth Deck, DNP, FNP-BC, CDE as she discusses managing diabetes for a healthier life.
This event will be held at the Riverside Health Fitness Center. There is no cost to attend. Refreshments will be served. Attendees will have the chance to enter into a drawing for a free one-year Riverside Health Fitness Center Membership and a $100.00 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card.
Registration coming soon.
Friday, September 30th 9am-2pm
Podcast Palooza
Stop by the Pavilion where there will be 10 different Well Within Reach podcast episodes recorded live throughout the day by our primary care providers.
Riverside Healthcare: What Family Feels Like
We all can understand what it is to be part of a family. To feel included, accepted, cared for, part of
something special.
We are starting a campaign at Riverside that centers on that theme. What Family Feels Like.
We have all probably heard at one time or another someone say, “Riverside is like a family.”
How we connect to that statement may be different for each of us, just as our own family
experiences differ. But what is true, is that feeling of family is at the core of what we do.
In the days ahead, you will see posters appearing in various areas throughout our healthcare
system. The messages are reminders of the hard work we do and impact we can have…on both our
co-workers and our patients.
A campaign, like family, takes lots of people to make it successful. We hope you are able to join us in
making Riverside a stronger family.
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.
