COVID-19 GGH Update April 30
How to give feedback
- Speak to your manager or director
- Ask your leader to bring forward an idea or concern to the COVID-19 Incident Management Team
- covidquestions@gghorg.ca
- What’s on your mind? (only works if you’re within the hospital)
Click to the section you want to read
Action/must read (1)
What’s New? (1)
Resources and Supplies (1)
Staff Support (0)
Policy Changes (0)
Starting with the positive…
P.S. You are the best”
Reporting on COVID-19 activity in staff and patients
| Total number of staff tested to date | 238 |
| Total number of staff with a negative test result to date | 200 |
| Current number of staff with a positive test | 5 |
| Number of staff results pending | 9 |
| Number of staff who tested positive and are now recovered | 24 |
| Total number of staff with a positive test result to date | 29 |
| Number of current in-patients who have tested positive | 9 |
Action/Must read
New scrub distribution process
Many of you may be aware that since the start of COVID-19, GGH has been losing on average of 1000 pieces of scrubs per week. What we do know about COVID-19 is that masks, eye protection and gowns are what protects us during patient contact and excellent hand washing and strict social distancing is what protects us outside of direct contact with patients. Over the past month, there have been several appeals for scrubs to be returned and only accessed by staff who used scrubs prior to COVID-19. We have had no success in having our stock returned and therefore need to implement a more rigid process for the distribution of hospital scrubs.
Starting today, April 30, there is a sign in/out process for hospital-issued scrubs. All scrubs have been removed from the change rooms and will be located at the screening stations. Staff who are approved to wear scrubs will need to sign out a pair at the beginning of shift and sign them back in when they are returned at the end of shift. If you arrive in scrubs, your name will be recorded as being issued a pair. You will need to return them when you leave or when you return on site next if you do not have a pair of clothes to change into.
At the screening area there will be a list that is updated daily of approved staff for receiving scrubs. Staff will need to show their badge to sign out the scrubs. Should another piece or pair be needed during a shift, simply present to a screening station to return your scrubs and another piece or pair will be signed out under your name. If you are not on the list and feel you should be, please contact your supervisor. If during a shift you are unable to come to the screening station for replacement scrubs, either send someone from your unit or call ext. 2977.
When you complete your shift, change back into your street clothes and return the scrubs in provided bags to the screening station. Bags can be found in the units and at the screening station. You MUST show your returned items to the screening staff and initial your return. When returning scrubs, please do not put anything except scrubs in the orange linen bags (no blankets or bags please). Staff who do not return their scrubs will receive follow up from their supervisor. As a reminder, please return all hospital-issued scrubs you may have at home.
This new process will be a challenge and we will encounter bumps along the way. We ask for your cooperation and your patience. If you have questions please talk to your Manager, Supervisor or Director. If you have ideas and suggestions please let Jen Pranger or Rachelle Peacock know.
What’s new?
Expanded list of workers eligible for “pandemic pay”
As previously communicated, the government is providing a temporary pandemic pay of $4 per hour worked on top of eligible staff’s regular wages. In addition, the government will be providing monthly lump sum payments of $250 for four months to eligible frontline workers who work more than 100 hours per month. The pandemic pay is to be effective April 24 to August 13, 2020.
When first announced, April 24, the government provided a list of eligible hospital workers. Yesterday, April 29, the government amended the list of eligible hospital workers to the following:
- Personal support worker
- Registered nurses
- Registered practical nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Attendant care workers
- Auxiliary staff including, porters, cooks, custodians, housekeeping, laundry facilities, and other key workers
- Developmental service workers
- Mental Health and addiction workers
- Respiratory therapists
- Paramedics
- Public Health nurses
Given the government’s eligible worker list referred to above, the hospital is seeking clarification and working through the details identifying eligible hospital staff and payment. In the meantime, the hospital appreciates your continued patience while the hospital develops an implementation plan for the pandemic pay.
Resources and Supplies
N95s and future of fit testing
The review of our respirator protection for workers is something continually being evaluated. We are working to be proactive and continue to prepare for future needs. At this time, workers are to continue to use the standard 3M N95 models to which you have been fit tested (see list of standard models below). If you are unsure of what standard model of N95 you are fit tested to, please look it up on Daisy on the Intranet, under Employee / N95 mask fit.
As part of our planning for potential future needs & back-up planning, we are beginning to fit test workers to alternate models of N95’s from our standard models (see photos below and click to enlarge). This is being done proactively in the event our standard stock becomes low to a point where we may need to switch to an alternate N95s to ensure workers are getting appropriate PPE. The alternate models we are testing to may vary as we review stock levels and incoming personal protective equipment. Processes are being developed for release of the alternate models when, or if, we need to switch over from our standard models.
Please ensure you are aware of the model of N95 you have been fit tested to for both our standard model as well as alternate (if you have been fit tested to an alternate model). It is recommended workers use a sharpie and write on the back of their ID badges the models they are fit tested to as a quick reference.
GGH N95 Standard Models: 3M 1870+, 3M 1860, 3M 1860s
Alternate models being fit tested (to date): 3M 9210, 3M 8210, 3M 8110s, SH9550
Additionally, we are preparing departments such as ICU, Cardio Respiratory and Emergency to be fit tested to full-face and/or half-face cartridge respirators as alternate respiratory protection methods from N95’s. Plans are actively being worked on for roll-out of this equipment to these areas.
More information on fit testing dates and processes will be released. Stay tuned to your email for upcoming information.
As a reminder, if you have been fit tested to an N95 at another facility, please ensure you notify EHS so our records here can be updated for you.
