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Kaleida Health announces recruitment efforts for surge team

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Mon, Mar 23rd 2020 07:45 am

Kaleida Health on Sunday released the following updates and reminders regarding the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic:

•TESTING FOR KALEIDA HEALTH EMPLOYEES, PHYSICIANS: Kaleida Health continues to prioritize testing its own workforce to ensure it maintains the health and well-being of its staff. It has been conducting its own COVID-19 employee testing for the past few days.

Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health, said, “Our No. 1 priority remains keeping our physicians, nurses and staff safe moving forward. We are and will continue to do all that we can when it comes to things such as testing staff, isolating positive COVID-19 patients (including our own workforce), mask/PPE acquisition, supply utilization and more. Our workforce must remain healthy so we can take care of our patients.” 

•RECRUITING FOR KALEIDA COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM: Kaleida Health is calling on the Western New York community for help from nurses, physicians and support staff to work on its COVID-19 response team. There is a specific need for experienced critical care nurses and medical/surgical nurses.

Lomeo said, “As the pandemic continues to surge, the health care workforce remains on the front lines of caring for the community. With an increased amount of infected patients and increasing hospital occupancy, there is an urgent need for more clinical staff to care for these patients.”

Those able to help can contact the Kaleida Health COVID-19 response team:

•Nurses call 716-859-4647 or email [email protected].

•Physicians email [email protected] (include state of licensure, specialty, NPI, best email, and cell phone number).

•Support staff, including medical assistants, certified medical assistant (CMA), patient care assistants (PCA), unit secretary and environmental and nutritional services, call 716-859-8607 or email [email protected].

Many professionals in the community have been displaced from their jobs in clinics, surgical centers, doctor’s offices and schools because of decreased elective volume or temporary closures. Kaleida Health is asking for their assistance in joining the COVID-19 response team to help the community in fighting this pandemic.

REMINDER

•HOSPITALS IN NEED OF MASKS: Hospitals in Western New York are competing nationally and internationally for resources. Kaleida Health is asking for the community’s help in protecting staff in the coming weeks by donating unused masks they may have:

•Any N95 and Non-N95 mask donations will be accepted.

•N95 masks that are in high need are:

3M 1860 model (size regular and small)

Halyard model Nos. 46767 and 46867

•To help contact the Kaleida Health Coronavirus Command Center:

Phone: 716-859-2200

Email: [email protected]

•STAY HOME MESSAGE: In an effort to reinforce the message of staying home, social distancing, and only participating in small gatherings, Kaleida Health has released a public service campaign. The community’s support of these recommendations is vital to their staff’s ability to manage patient care. Watch: https://vimeo.com/399200724

•IF YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC – As a reminder, per the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Erie County Health Department (ECDOH), if you think you have been exposed to COVID‑19 and/or if you develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. Do not come to the emergency department or hospital.

•If you get sick with fever (100°F/38°C or higher), cough, or have trouble breathing:

First, call your health care provider and explain your symptoms

Avoid contact with others. Stay home when you are sick.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

Before seeking health care, call ahead to the facility and tell them your situation. They will give you instructions on how to access care without exposing other people to your illness.

For testing information, call your health care provider. Do not call the hospital or come to the emergency department. Communications have been sent by the ECDOH to health care providers regarding testing guidelines.

Health care providers will need to determine whether or not the individual needs to be tested. If the health care provider approves your testing, your provider (not the individual) will contact the ECDOH.

Finally, the individual will be notified by the Erie County Department of Health if he or she came in contact with someone who tested positive in Erie County.

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