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A Pennsylvania hospital chain announces it will not require employees who had COVID-19 to get vaccinated for 12 months after their positive tests. Send a secure message to the Health and Wellness Center through the Patient Portal and they will be able to log your individual situation and advise on any further questions about your vaccination/booster schedule. If an instructor becomes symptomatic or receives a positive COVID test result, the instructor should shift the class to remote instruction until the instructor receives a confirmed negative test result or, in the case of a positive test, is cleared to return to work. Researchers said the results are only applicable to the delta strain and only the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine was examined. Health Research; Employee Wellness Programs; More information on Community. Out of nearly 40,000 workers across all three networks, only a few hundred chose to resign. At-home antigen tests are widely available at pharmacies, and, in many cases, are covered by insurance. Its not the same as the medical or religious ones where there are laws in place that deal with that.. Leif Greiss is a reporter covering hospitals and health care in the Lehigh Valley. Will the university share who is vaccinated and unvaccinated? Can faculty or staff request information from students about their vaccination status? St. Lukes and Good Shepherds vaccine mandates had earlier deadlines than LVHN and those networks also reported success from their mandates. Getting vaccinated has far fewer risks than catching COVID-19. So when LVHN sent an email to employees about a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, Miller jumped at the opportunity to help end the pandemic, signing up half an hour later. Sodexo is seeking a full-time Manager 3, Regional Operations Support to support new business and/or vacancies throughout the entire US in Food and Environmental Services for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, located in Allentown, PA. Todd Zywicki, a law professor at George Mason University, who argued he should be exempt from the schools vaccine mandate because he already had COVID-19, was able to get a medical exemption after he sued in August. The nurse case manager will facilitate care through recovery and return to work for any employees who suspect exposure or test positive for COVID-19, working closely with Lehigh Human Resources throughout the process. St. Lukes leadership will also reassess the deferral requests and may update or alter guidance later based on new information. The four levels address topics such as wearing a mask in our facilities, eating in our cafeterias, attending community meetings and more. For those who are tested at an alternate location, be aware that if you are not taking a rapid test, your results may take several days to be processed. Widespread vaccination in the fall allowed us to operate as an in-person campus. You also can schedule an appointment by calling our COVID-19 Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). Any faculty or staff member who has been on campus or in close proximity to other Lehigh community members and receives a positive COVID-19 test result must notify Christine Wolfe and notify Lehigh by following the instructions in the COVID-19 Return to Campus Employee Health Guide. If you have any challenges scheduling, or need to contact us regarding your COVID vaccination, please call us at : 833-LVHN-CVD (833-584-6283). Employee Health - LVHN-CC . Alternatively, if the instructor is too sick to teach, the class can be rescheduled or an alternative instructor can be found. You can start here and watch the video that provides guidance about your next steps. Details will be forthcoming. If I received a medical or religious exemption from Lehighs COVID Vaccination requirement, do I need to submit any additional documentation? I'm an international student and I am not eligible to get the booster in my home country. While we have had good responses so far, we will send the information to Capital Blue Cross with a request to review the claim for accuracy, but we cannot guarantee that the claim will be reprocessed and paid. However, the study has multiple limitations. Lehigh students, faculty and staff should follow the guidance provided by the Health and Wellness Center (for students) and Lehighs occupational health nursefrom LVHN(for faculty and staff). You may also consult with Human Resources at. GO: The Campaign for LehighBe part of the most ambitious fundraising and engagement effort in Lehigh's history. All rights reserved (About Us). Position: LVHN is seeking an Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Physician Assistant (Physician Assistant )<br>Orthopedics opening in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.<p>This is truly an extraordinary time to join the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Faculty/staff- Follow the advice of your primary care physician and notify the university's LVHN Employee Health Nurse Case Manager, Christine Wolfe, RN, at Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org or 610-861-8080 ext. Studies show immunity from a vaccine may be more reliable and provide more long-term protection. The Employee Health Nurse Care Manager will need to clear you for return to work and will facilitate appropriate contact tracing. - If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma while sick with COVID-19, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the campaign website now >, 27 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA, document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); All Rights Reserved, Faculty & Staff Frequently Asked Questions, Any faculty or staff member who has been on campus or in close proximity to other Lehigh community members and receives a positive COVID-19 test result must notify Christine Wolfe and notify Lehigh by following the instructions in the, COVID-19 Return to Campus Employee Health Guide. We understand that some students are hesitant to report a positive test for fear of falling behind in classes. Easterly said most employers at the moment arent allowing employees to defer vaccination because of natural immunity but the situation is developing and that could change. Anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for 10 days, or seven days if theyve tested negative for the virus. I lost my vaccine card. Yes. %%EOF Who should faculty and staff contact for questions regarding updating vaccination status or submitting a request for an exemption from the vaccination requirement? Noncompliance with the booster requirement for students will result in. You may also consult with Human Resources at inhro@lehigh.edu to determine whether your circumstances may be addressed under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Natural infection is much more likely to result in serious sickness or death, whereas a vaccine protects against serious illness or death from COVID-19 infection, he said. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Is there support for University staff and faculty (and their dependents) for mental health needs during this period? We are not installing plexiglass at general locations at this time. For minor pains, illnesses or allergies, get answers any time of the day or night with an ExpressCARE Video Visit. The new location is inside the Coordinated Health-Hazle Township facility at 26 Station Circle, Hazle Township. LVHN was the last to release its vaccination statistics, giving unionized employees until Nov. 30. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has four different operations levels based on the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. All HVAC systems have received, and will continue to receive, regularly scheduled preventive maintenance. .block-reference .header { padding-top: 40px; }. Another recent study from Israel, which also hasnt been published or peer-reviewed yet, showed natural immunity provided longer-lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization due to the delta variant than the Pfizer vaccine. P.C. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August found that subjects who had natural immunity but were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected with COVID-19 as those who had natural immunity and those who got their shots. What is the difference between isolation and quarantine? St. Lukes is based in the Bethlehem area. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Fewer than 1% of LVHNs nearly 20,000 employees chose to leave rather than get vaccinated. For faculty and staff, there are other forms of vaccination proof that may also be used for employer documentation. LVHN is providing free COVID-19 screenings online and by phone. 426 0 obj <>stream On Friday, Feb. 3, LVHN will . 86N{L.=8kZ'=Bj,+=L`+zA ^,`5$gx;v4Osxc? z> This applies if you live on or off campus. If you don't feel well: Stay home and notify your supervisor or department chair. Its perfectly legal for employers who have vaccine mandates in place to allow deferrals for employees with natural immunity, Ed Easterly, with the law firm Hoffman, Hlavac & Easterly, said. Faculty and staff must continue to monitor personal health for symptoms and risk of exposure. Testing and visits for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are covered under the Universitys medical plans with no cost share to the patient through January 16, 2022. Because of that,our Occupational Medicine clinics areable to offer onsite services where the testing, physicals, vaccinations, and more are performed at your work site, thereby reducing loss of productivity. While no vaccine provides a guarantee against infection, COVID vaccination and the booster are effective at preventing serious illness and death and continue to be the best protection against the spread of new and more contagious variants of the virus. Leif Greiss is a reporter covering hospitals and health care in the Lehigh Valley. The nurse case manager will facilitate care through recovery and return to work for any employees who suspect exposure or may test positive for COVID-19, working closely with Lehigh Human Resources throughout the process. You should contact your primary care physician first and follow their advice, including scheduling a COVID-19 test, if recommended. "Our health care systems continue to combat the ongoing COVID-19 virus and are committed to the safety of every patient in our care and every colleague on our team," said Brian A. Nester, DO,. Any individual, even if asymptomatic, who wishes to get tested can do so for a fee through Vault Health (the company we have contracted with for student arrival testing) or through a number of other providers. Lehigh Valley Health Network saw significant success from its vaccine mandate with the vast majority of employees choosing to get the vaccine, network officials report. The deadline for Good Shepherds mandate was Oct. 15. If the instructor is too sick to teach, the class can be rescheduled or an alternative instructor can be found. If LVHN employees covered by this policy are vaccinated outside of LVHN clinics, LVPG practices or Employee Health Services, they must provide evidence of immunization to St. Lukes University Health Network, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network have jointly announced they will require all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a news release. Remember that if you receive a positive test result from testing conducted outside of the HWC,you must report your result by uploading it to thePatient Portal. She serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19 and facilitates care through recovery and return to work for any employees who suspect exposure or may test positive for COVID-19, working closely with Lehigh Human Resources throughout the process. Full information about Lehigh's partnership with LVHN for COVID-19 related employee health services can be found here. Boosters are a necessary component of our health and safety protocols to support a successful semester on campus, including in-person instruction and activities. Contact Christine Wolfe, RN, the university's Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network at 610-861-8080 ext. Christine must clear you for your return to work, and she will do so depending on your particular condition and using the most updated CDC guidance at the time. The safety and well-being of the Lehigh community are our highest priority as we strive to provide the educational environment and workplace that students, faculty and staff expect. Quarantine: separates and restricts the movements of those who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick. LVHN also now accepts walk-ins at our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic-Northampton Crossings located at 3768 Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County. However, if they choose to share this with you, treat this as confidential information and follow up with Christine Wolfeor Human Resources to make sure the information and all services are being extended. What are the current campus status and protocols? < Without speaking specifically about St. Lukes policy, Dr. John Zurlo, chief of infectious disease at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said there is no reason for anyone to defer getting vaccinated, even if they have natural immunity. Signs are downloadable for individual printing on the Resources page of this website. 7. The percent of fresh air will be adjusted to as high as possible based on outdoor temperatures, humidity, and the capacity of the unit to heat/cool the desired percent of fresh air. Less than 1% chose to leave, Downs said. Legislation has also been brought forward in the U.S. Senate to block Bidens mandate for large employers. Employee Health Services Hours and Locations . In addition, LVHN produced the following video that introduces you to the care team behind the partnership and shares additional information about when and how to obtain services from Lehigh's employee health nurse case manager. How is noncompliance with the booster requirement addressed? Concentra has acquired LVHNs occupational health business inBethlehemandAllentown. During this quarantine, you should monitor your health for any symptoms. The HWC will then be able to provide the documentation a professor might require for your missing class. Matching 403b and a defined pension program As a result, LVHN's We recognize this is a difficult time for faculty, staff and families. Under the executive orders, federal employees, federal contractors and health care workers at facilities that receive Medicaid and Medicare funds would also have been required to get vaccinated and will not have an option for weekly testing. Vaccines have been available to health professionals for about a year. Please do not send us any additional information other than what is requested in the form above. Dr. Alex Benjamin . Get detailed information about COVID-19, and vaccine safety and effectiveness at LVHN.org/vaccineFAQ, SLUHN.org and goodshepherdrehab.org. If you are 65 years of age or older (another higher risk category defined by the CDC) or do not have an underlying medical condition but are generally concerned about returning to campus, please talk with your department chair or supervisor about modifications (such as flexplace arrangements, flexible schedules or workspace modifications) that may allow you to perform your position accountabilities effectively and productively. Lastly, because new medical research has yet to be evaluated or peer-reviewed, it should not be used to guide clinical practice, according to medRxiv, the preprint server the study was posted on. Some readers who have been at Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street in . The dividers at these locations will remain in place at present. Speak with a nurse to assess COVID and other symptoms, answer your questions, and discuss your testing options. The university will not share confidential health information. Given the waning effectiveness of vaccines over time, the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, and mounting evidence that boosters provide additional protection against COVID, Lehigh is requiring the COVID booster as an extension of the universitys COVID vaccination requirement for all eligible students, faculty and staff who did not receive an approved medical or religious exemption. What should I do? Notice: All Colleagues and Non-Employed LVHN Partners, including remote workers, will be required to be vaccinated after the first COVID-19 vaccine receives full FDA approval. K(*piY^9%w'\lzInog-EV]Yb|^, vmsU#O!Hi3@O;\l!k(p!-} iw{_6E+N 4-+3O]xSHwxu@W3Kva]0([@H[CP |?C wo x>\.8CU`DEFq4,X0^ncwQhEGl,6.l/5FQO.,H9hN>z/e}NZeK"HMCleRcV]Ng&mN >E Faculty or staff members with symptoms should stay home and notify your supervisor or department chair. Yes, we are continuing to maintain all our ventilation systems, including regularly scheduled filter replacement as per our regular operations. "Our health care systems continue to combat the ongoing COVID-19 virus and are committed to the safety of every patient in our care and every colleague on our team," said a joint statement. Our journalism needs your support. The CDC offers more guidance on boosters, including eligibility, on the CDC website and Vaccines.gov provides location information for COVID vaccines and boosters. Isolation typically lasts 5 days after a positive test result, with required mask-wearing for 5 additional days. Yes. Refer to this list provided by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). People who believe they may have. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This is truly an extraordinary time to join the Lehigh Valley Health Network. Phone: 610 -402-1880 Fax: 610-402-1203 In particular, prior infection is likely to provide poor protection against the Omicron variant. The claim: Employees who are fired for refusing a vaccine are eligible for unemployment benefits The highly transmissible delta coronavirus variant has caused a nationwide spike in cases,. Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. Filter changes will continue to follow ASHRAE guidelines. The federal COVID-19 response excludes up to 106 million workers from paid leave protections The end result is that a legislative package with the stated intent of protecting the physical and. Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. Lehigh Valley Health Network will officially close its five COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Whitehall, Easton, Hazleton, Pottsville and East Stroudsburg (as well as the network's mobile vaccination . endstream endobj 394 0 obj <>stream /@[ O Talk to your healthcare professional if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Staff may use any type of paid leave to accommodate the need to stay home or leave campus early. We have prepared guidance on what to do if you are feeling sick and suspect you have COVID-19. Do we still need plexiglass dividers? This story was updated Tuesday to indicate Lehigh Valley Health Network has decided to update its policy; previously the health network had been discussing doing so. St. Lukes and LVHN employees who caught, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), St. Lukes and LVHN employees who caught COVID-19 to defer getting the vaccine, other employers may follow, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61, Bryan Kohberger defense lawyers want gag order kept in Idaho killings case, Allentown School Board likely to vote on hiring Carol Birks as superintendent next week. Supervisors and department chairs, staff and faculty are not required to divulge that the reason for their absence is due to a COVID-19 isolation or quarantine. Can I have copies of the safety reminder signs to put up in my office? But not all infectious disease experts agree on this. Only six Good Shepherd employees chose to resign. A recent study by researchers at Rockefeller University, which hasnt been published or peer-reviewed, found that natural infection can create B cells, a type of white blood cell, that produce more potent antibodies for fighting COVID-19 and its variants than the B cells created after vaccination. These policies to be introduced soon will apply to everyone who works or conducts business within the health care organizations. Love Where You Work! Studies show immunity from a vaccine may be more reliable and provide more long-term protection. 23504 or Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org . No. who serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. And Good Shepherd, which gave employees until Oct. 15, reported a 99% compliance rate among its workforce of about 1,200 people, including 71 who received exemptions or deferments. We know that COVID-19 can cause long-term health problems, even in mild cases. Lehigh Valley Health Network is headquartered in Salisbury Township. If youre not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing. When in doubt about when you are able to end isolation, always follow the guidance provided by the HWC (for students) or Lehighs LVHN occupational health nurse (for faculty and staff). LVHN front-line health care workers receive COVID-19 vaccine. All faculty have been instructed to work with students to ensure their ability to keep up with coursework if they need to quarantine or isolate. "It's not FDA-approved, it's. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Latest Updates . If you experience or witness a situation in which members of our community, regardless of whether they are students, faculty, staff, or visitors are not adhering to these standards, you have the following options: If you can safely address the concern directly with the individual or group, you may do so by reminding them of University standards and our shared responsibility in promoting a healthy, safe and inclusive learning and working environment. Keep up with the latest info on corona in Munich (in German) How do faculty and staff submit their vaccination and booster documentation? If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, whether you are unvaccinated or vaccinated--follow the establishedprotocols, including contacting your medical provider to be tested, staying home andaway from others to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, and following any isolation protocols should you test positive for COVID.