Corona Virus Update 5/7

Tonight I wanted to give you some examples of our members activism in this time of Covid-19. I’ve included several emails to the lawyer of L&M Hospital, speaking of their dismay that L&M’s attitude towards cooperation is poor and that their proclamation of how great the nurses and healthcare workers are is meaning less unless it’s backed up with action. It is of course, part of a bigger campaign.

Before we get to that - today is 61 days since our first Confirmed case of Covid-19 in Connecticut 

1385 are hospitalized, down 60 today. 

2797 have died, up 79 today.

Here are some of the Emails:

                   

Dear Gabe, 

Yale’s commercial? It’s hard to watch, because we know the truth. Yale is NOT taking care of its front line employees! You say we have adequate PPE, yet we are still re-using PPE. We still have employees who have not been fit-tested for N95 use! We are 8 weeks into this Gabe! Why can’t L&M get that done? It will increase N95 use, that’s not it is it?  The flimsy yellow gowns protect us from nothing. The ED, ICU, & transport staff are told when they are looking for basic PPE to “call around” to the other floors to find it themselves!  Who’s job is that? Why, if we have “an adequate supply”  is our front line staff still on daily scavenger hunts for it? What are you saving it for? We are at risk now.  What is the value assigned to the staff today when you factor our lives into your PPE equation?  Are we a constant or a floating target with a bullseye?

The proposal you brought to the table is embarrassing Gabe. Are you seriously only going to “front” our employees 80 hours of sick pay for suiting up and showing up every day risking their lives and the lives of their families? Do you seriously expect them to “work it off” later? You believe that from an organization as prestigious and world renown as Yale New Haven Health that’s the best you can do? It’s embarrassing Gabe. Home Depot is doing better by its front line employees who MIGHT come in contact with Covid, than Yale is with theirs who are absolutely in contact with and many times at repeated and prolonged risk of contact with Covid! 

What have we really asked for Gabe? It’s pretty basic. We want access to PPE to keep ourselves as safe as we can be from Covid. When we get sick, we want Yale New Haven Health to step up and take care of us. We want Yale to continue to pay our wages and let us heal, without also worrying about the rent or food bill because our partners and spouses are out of work too!  We want you to acknowledge the risk we are taking with a respectable monetary incentive to continue to suit up and show up under these conditions. That’s not a lot Gabe. It’s basic, no fluff. Just a little dignity and respect for what you asking us to do. 

I have never been prouder of my profession and I have never been prouder to represent The Professional Nurses of L&M Hospital Local 5049. That pride is contrasted with my disappointment and disbelief at how the world renowned Yale New Haven Health, which by the way saved my life just 5 short years ago is failing us today. Failing, at simply just doing the next right thing. 

Covid has changed us all. I know how my profession will be remembered. How will Yale fare? 

Dear Gabe,

I sat at home before coming to work tonight and watched in dismay, a Yale commercial claiming we have enough Personal Protective Equipment. I sat and had flash backs:

-          The day I was hoping to be fitted and get a small N95 mask. They are still in short supply.

-          Given a brown bag and told to keep my N95 in it because that’s all I was going to get.  

-          Trying not to use it in fear I will not get it back if I place it in the bin to be sterilized.

-          Using a level 1 mask because level 3 are being held back and not available for my use, and still not available.

-          Using a level 1 mask for a week and being asked not to wear makeup because Yale is thinking of sterilizing them.

-          Waiting for my level 1 mask replacement for the week, which is only distributed on Wednesdays.

-          Making head shields from book covers, hot glue gun, staples, recycle foam from boxes, from supply storage.

-          Having patients with no mask travel from floor to floor with transporters. Administration claiming there are not enough masks to give to inpatients. Putting patients and staff at risk by not supplying the patient with protection. This is also true for ER patients.

-          Being told not to over use purple top wipes, or cut them in half, because there is a shortage.

-          Being told to take my temperature twice a day, yet I could not find a thermometer anywhere.  

-          Told to re-use gowns because there is a shortage.

-          Performing my job and not being told if it is a possible COVID-19 patient or status of test.

-          Going home and worrying, “Did I get COVID-19 today?” I’ll know in 3 days but every day it’s another 3 days. Lack of sleep, wondering am I the carrier. My family is at risk. Maybe I’ll know in 3 days but I work every day so it’s another 3 days………

These are a few things that came to mind. Then I just wonder…where are all the PPE that are being advertised? Why aren’t they at L&M? 

Then with all these risks, Yale expects us to work under these circumstances and expects my family to accept it. Why is it that McDonald’s, Target, Home-Depot, Lowes, Walmart and many more are acknowledging their workers and appreciate them by giving them incentives. Yes, I am a healthcare worker and it’s my job to take care of the sick in need. As you sit behind closed doors and have zoom meetings, you’re all practicing social distancing… including from us, dictating everyday what we can do without. I say, I am proud to be in the front line but NOT ONE HEALTHCARE WORKER at L&M signed up to GET SICK, helping or risking DEATH to ourselves or family in the process. This risk should be compensated to all L&M healthcare workers and proper PPE should be available without any negotiation or discussion. SIR, NOW THAT WOULD BE TRUE APPRECIATION!!!

Gabe,

These are unprecedented and uncertain times, and we are all feeling the pressure in our differing roles within the healthcare system. The front line staff deserves to be compensated for the direct risk to their personal health, and the health of their families, for continuing to step up everyday and do their jobs in the face of constantly changing and reclarification of policies,and flux in PPE quantity, quality and accessibility. We have worked hard over the years on practices to reduce the incidence of healthcare acquired infections, and now we have COVID rapidly undoing all we’ve practiced in just 6 weeks because of issues with PPE and sanitizing wipes. We are in harm’s way. Other companies recognize this; that is why they are compensating their employees. You have a responsibility to our staff who risk getting sick from working, and who do become ill and lose time (if not their life) to recovery jeopardizing their financial stability. With a high false negative rate of testing, how can any of us truly know who we may catch the virus from? Most of our patients have no idea how to wear a mask and practice good hygiene, and we are in contact with them every day. 

I have to express my dismay, disappointment and disgust that Yale has resisted working together on many issues, but not stepping up for their front line workers is really a low. 

Hello All, Every night on every channel of the news we watch how people  appreciate frontline healthcare  workers. We see how companies appreciate their employees , who don’t even work at a hospital and are not even going in to face COVID-19 positive patience. They’re showing their dedicated employees that their company’s got their back and will support them if they get sick or fall into financial straits . I’m not sure the employees of L&M would feel the same way . Numerous times we hear “we have plenty of PPE “ , but yet,  we hear stories of  how floor staff nurses are frantically looking around for gowns, call the ADN , only to find out PPE is locked up in some closet that nobody can get to. It’s truly pathetic we are told to reuse masks and reuse gowns. How are we supposed to stop the spread of all this? Not to mention the fact that we leave the hospital wondering if this virus is coming home with us to our families. The only thing we want is to know that our company has our back. That our company will look after us if we get sick. That our company won’t insult us and make us PROVE  that we caught COVID-19 at work. That our company appreciates the hard work we do day in and day out. Do the right thing and look after your own! 

Drive Thru Rapid COVID-19 Testing Information

from the State of Connecticut

The State of Connecticut has formed a partnership with CVS Health in an initiative that makes free, rapid COVID-19 tests available to eligible Connecticut residents. The state’s first rapid testing site opened on Friday, April 17th at Gateway Community College in New Haven.

Using the new Abbott ID NOW™ COVID-19 test, CVS Health is conducting up to 750 tests per day, seven days a week. Unlike the state’s other COVID-19 testing facilities, patients do not need to be referred by a doctor, however they are required to make an appointment in advance. The general public will be directed to a CVS website https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing to register for testing. 

Reserved Spots for Healthcare workers 

The State of Connecticut is reserving a limited number of spots per day for healthcare workers. These spots will be available each day, six days a week (Monday through Saturday), from Noon to 4 pm for these workers.

Initially, the demand for testing is expected to exceed the capacity. Every effort will be made to prioritize requests based on the criteria listed below, recognizing that not every potential test recipient may be able to immediately take advantage of this opportunity. (Healthcare workers and their family members can be directed to the CVS website for CVS testing independent of these reserved spots, too.)

Criteria for Testing

Priority should be given to persons with one or more of these symptoms: 

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher;

• New cough within last 14 days;

• Shortness of breath

Second priority should be given to persons with one or more of the following risk factors:

• Exposure to or contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days;

• Immunosuppressed;

• Pregnant

Reserving a Testing Slot

Please register your employees in need of testing through the following link

(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC12caJ-2eUuLWf-z-4_nnytMREZQWj96xabjG53JxLWiJlA/viewform)

Testing is available Monday through Saturday. You must register the number of your prioritized workers by 5 PM for testing the following day. You will be notified by 10 AM the following day if slots are available for your facility that day. If slots are available for staff in your facility, please advise your staff to arrive between 12 and 4 pm to receive a test. Requests for testing can be sent daily. 

Location and On-Site Procedure

• The testing location is:

60 Sargent Drive 

Long Wharf Drive

New Haven, CT

• When you arrive, see the officer at the tent at Long Wharf Drive. Produce your personal ID and facility badge or work identification credentials. Further instructions will follow after check-in. 

• Access is by vehicle only. No vehicle may be larger than a passenger SUV. There may be no more than 2 people in each vehicle. It is recommended that each vehicle contain only one person. 

• When healthcare workers arrive, they are required to stay in their vehicle. Team members will check their registration and direct them through the testing process. Health care providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants from MinuteClinic will be on-site to oversee the testing.

• The process takes approximately 30 minutes from the collection of the swab to the delivery of the results.

• Testing is available at no charge.

General Public Registration

Anyone experiencing certain COVID-19 related symptoms and risk factors as defined by CDC guidelines, as well as those who meet certain requirements including state residency and age guidelines are eligible to be tested. Healthcare workers may also register through CVS’ online system for the general public for assignment to the non-reserved slots. Anyone who does not have an appointment will not be tested. Tests can be scheduled for the same day or up to two days in advance. To register, visit www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

Some info from AFT Connecticut

Equipping Members with Information During the Pandemic

Further COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) crisis-related resources and updates available online have over the past four weeks been added to the AFT Connecticut website:

• Click here for our Healthcare division main page.
• Click here for our PreK-12 teachers division main page.
• Click here for our Public Employees division main page.
• Click here for our Paras & School-Related Personnel (PSRP) division main page.
• Click here for our Higher Education division main page.

Be safe,

John