We are 26 days since our first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut.
3557 confirmed cases, up 429 from yesterday
85 deaths, up 16
766 currently hospitalized, up 158
16,600 tested, up 1000
I am very sorry to report that a 6 week old Connecticut infant has succumbed to Corvid-19.
These are truly sad times. The best we can do as healthcare leaders is to be there for our members, our families and our patients. I wish I had words to make this better.
Let’s start with some reports from the field:
Dear members Local 5119, (VNA of SE CT)
We had previously emailed you the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding, and agreement between the union and management) and what we are bargaining. Our greatest concern is management not denying any workers compensation claims due to Covid 19. We are in homes with a lot of community exposure that we have no control over. We demanded a time line and we will meet again Tuesday. Your executive committee is tough and we will not settle. We are on the front lines with no ammunition and the least they can do is give us the benefits we deserve if or I should say when we come down with the virus.
We are tired of hearing the President of Yale on commercial after commercial state they are taking care of their Health Care Workers. They aren’t!
Meanwhile all nurses should document all community exposure in the home. This includes” client and wife are practicing social distancing but adult grandson in the home is out daily. Community exposure present”
“ Client has numerous PCGs in the home who also go to other homes. Nephew visited from NYC this weekend and client goes to dialysis. Community exposure in the home”
HHAs.(Home Health Aides) Please send an email to your supervisor briefly stating the community exposure in each home to have it on record.
Nurses please evaluate need for HHA. Our HHAs have prolonged exposure to the clients. Please discontinue the HHA if it is not necessary. We are fighting a silent enemy. Put yourselves in their shoes.
Please reach out to any of us with questions or concerns.
Our talks with the Governor’s office:
We have had initial talks about a uniform statewide guidance on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) from the office of the Governor. We have shared that this would go a long way in protecting our healthcare workers and elevating a part of their stress. We asked to be a part of developing this guidance.
(Just today, HHC (Hartford Healthcare) came out with a new policy that seems to be more along the line of what we could agree with. However, there are parts of the policy (about when an N95 is to be used) that seem to contradict with other parts of the policy. We are seeking clarification.)
On housing, Executive Order 7P requires the development of non-congregate temporary housing for health care workers who are at reasonable risk of having been exposed to COVID-19 and cannot return to their usual residence because of the risk of infecting other household members. The commissioner has issued an order pursuant to the authority granted in that order and written to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to request federal assistance. You have probably seen the news reports about dorms being prepared for this purpose, and the Governor’s office says hospitals have lined up hotel space
On the issue I raised last night about the use of N95 at Yale. The Yale statement states that “healthcare workers can safely switch to the universal-size 1870 N95 respirators for the care of COVID-19 patients. A repeat fit test is not required as long as care does not include participation in an aerosol-generating procedure such as intubation, bronchoscopy, upper endoscopy, or sputum induction.”
I am not familiar with a universal-size N95 so I asked Steve Schrag from ConnectiCOSH, for his opinion. He tells me that there are universal-sized N95 but whether they fit a worker appropriately would be hit or miss and would not protect against airborne pathogens.. He also said that OSHA regulations would require workers be fit tested again whenever the style of a respirator was changed.
We are prepared to file an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) complaint on this.
Hartford Healthcare East Region will have a town hall call. 30 minutes for an update and Q&A. Looks like you have to submit your questions ahead of time by email.
Colleagues,
I would like to urge you to call in to an important Virtual Town Hall which will be held, Thursday, April 2, at 6 PM.
To participate in this meeting on an outside line, please call:
860.972.6338 Access code: 8898331#
To participate in this call on an East Region line, please call: 88126338 Access code: 8898331#
Please note: This town hall is audio only.
This call will last approximately 30 minutes. Topics covered will include:
Containment: Limiting the spread of the COVID-19 virus
Protection: Action plan to ensure employee and patient safety
Surge Capacity: Including supplies, space, equipment and staff
We will be presenting important information on these topics and more. The presentation will be followed by a Q & A session.
Please submit your questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 preparedness and safety to Handley3@hhchealth.org by 4 pm Thursday, April 2.
An audio link to this Town Hall will be sent to all employees after the session to ensure everyone has access to the information. For those who cannot attend the live call, we encourage you to listen and submit any outstanding questions or concerns.
I can't thank you all enough for your tireless work and courage during this unprecedented time. Your collective dedication and professionalism are a true inspiration.
Donna Handley
President, East Region
On the other hand, AFT has town halls where you can actually call into and ask questions.
From AFT:
Just an FYI it looks like we will be having a teletown hall this coming Tuesday at 7pm eastern. As it stands now it looks like the Surgeon General will be joining us on the call.
Call in details will be coming later.
Today, HHC came out with a new policy that seems to be more along the line of what we could agree with. (And where most other healthcare systems are) However, there are parts of the policy (about when an N95 is to be used) that seem to contradict with other parts of the policy. We are seeking clarification because this chart seems to say use N95 for anyone with symptoms or tested positive, but later in the policy it says otherwise. Healthcare workers do not need this kind of confusion right now, they need clarity.
This message from State Rep Mike D'Agostino
Dear Neighbor.
I thought you would appreciate some good and inspiring news in these difficult times. Hamden High School student Conner Larocque is filling his time outside the classroom by helping first responders in their efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Conner - in his junior year - began using his own 3D printer to make face masks and quickly got a sense of the demand for this type of personal protective equipment (PPE). That's when he asked for permission to use the high school's 3D printer as well.
Conner's goal is to make at least 100 face shields so every first responder in Hamden has protection from the coronavirus.
Conner's efforts caught the attention of Hamden Fire Chief Gary Merwede who said, "Face shield protection is essential for high risk medical interventions in the field. This project protects not only our first responders, but also the public at large."
We are pleased to have been able to have provided funding that expanded Hamden High School’s Science and Engineering programs – although we never imagined it would be used for these purposes, we all can be inspired by how Conner is playing a key role in fighting the pandemic at the grass roots level.
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns at Michael.DAgostino@cga.ct.gov or 800-842-8267.
Sincerely,
Mike D'Agostino
I had a long call with Senator Cathy Osten today who is doing everything she can to help us. I thank her for all her work.
AFT has a new program. A Trauma Benefit with psychological counseling. It is a member only benefit. See your department representative or Local Leadership for more information.
Please sign our petition for PPE https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/healthcare-workers-need-protective-equipment-now
That’s what I have for tonight folks. Please do you best to stay healthy. Thank you for all you do everyday at the bedside and in your leadership roles. Also, a big thank you to all the members of the community who are doing everything they can with donations, etc. Please be safe yourselves and please continue to be a voice for those on the frontline. You are greatly appreciated.
You truly are the best,
John
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