Click here.). Leif Greiss is a reporter covering hospitals and health care in the Lehigh Valley. Why is Lehigh requiring a COVID booster shot for all eligible students, faculty, and staff? As an employer, Lehigh has the ability to implement this requirement for the health and safety of its community, and vaccination and boosters remain critical in supporting these efforts. Our journalism needs your support. Read more about COVID-19 symptoms, treatmentand on-campus testing for students on this page. How is Lehigh cleaning classroom spaces, offices, and common areas of buildings? Will the university share who is vaccinated and unvaccinated? Supervisors are expected to address these issues with their direct reports. St. Lukes deadline for its mandate was in September. 0 Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. About 97% of current LVHN employees are fully vaccinated Brian Downs, a network spokesperson, said. If you test positive for COVID, contact the university's Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network, Christine Wolfe, RN, at 610-861-8080 ext. COVID-19 Level Yellow - Lehigh Valley Health Network All HVAC systems have received, and will continue to receive, regularly scheduled preventive maintenance. You may also consult with Human Resources at. Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. Lehigh Valley Health Network has opened seven new patient testing centers and will soon open an eighth amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Can faculty or staff request information from students about their vaccination status? Christine serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. Contact us For more information on LVHN Occupational Health services, contact us at Carisa Vetrano at carisa.vetrano@lvhn.org. We have prepared guidance on what to do if you are feeling sick and suspect you have COVID-19. Out of nearly 40,000 workers across all three networks, only a few hundred chose to resign. Vaccines have been available to health professionals for about a year. URMC Events - University of Rochester Medical Center St. Luke's, LVHN and Good Shepherd will all require employees to be 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. We appreciate your patience. 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 you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. P.C. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Health Department staff* are available to answer questions Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 233 96650. f;Ik0yDrEHP lM wl'9y $ mad` Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Check with your local vaccine provider for their processes and requirements. Remdesivir Intravenous Therapy Now Offered Exclusively at New Infusion Site, Heart Complication (Myocarditis) Rare After COVID-19 Vaccination, We Are Family: Vaccine Clinic Brings Vaccines to Hazleton, COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Third Shots, COVID-positive patients must mask if able when staff are present in the room, Mask strongly encouragedwhen not eating or drinking, Permitted to visit LVHN employees and non-COVID-19 patients, Pet visits must be authorized by a physician, Follow guidelines for area(s) to be visited. 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. 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. 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. See the. Read more below for work-related resources. In addition to the health network's efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Nester said LVHN remains focused on delivering the highest quality care to people in each community it serves. Health Research; Employee Wellness Programs; More information on Community. You can start here and watch the video that provides guidance about your next steps. In mid-November, following a slew of lawsuits a judge in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Bidens mandate for employees at large companies. St. Luke's and LVHN employees who caught COVID-19 to defer getting the vaccine, other employers may follow Tyger Williams / Philadelphia Inquirer Some employers are considering allowing. .block-reference .header { padding-top: 40px; }. The CDC offers more guidance on boosters, including eligibility, on the CDC website and Vaccines.gov provides location information for COVID vaccines and boosters. Example: staying home and out of the public. Call 610-861-8080, select 5 to bypass menu and enter extension 21237. For more information on these requirements and for additional health guidance, please visit our Vaccination Resources Center. Sam Kennedy, spokesperson for St. Lukes, said the move to implement this exemption was made based on guidance from network infectious disease experts. Isolation typically lasts 5 days after a positive test result, with required mask-wearing for 5 additional days. See the Pennsylvania Department of Health siteor Lehigh's HWC site for lists of local testing resources. Why is Lehigh requiring COVID vaccination and boosters for students, faculty and staff? However, Bidens orders have faced significant opposition by Republicans in both the judicial and legislative branches of government. However, the LVHN mandate didnt go into effect until Aug. 24, the day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizers vaccine. Miller is among about 75 LVHN employees, patients and community members who consented to participate in the Phase 3 trial for the . The Supreme Court ruling limits the power of the federal government to mandate that large employers take certain measures, such as requiring vaccinations, but does not preclude or limit employers from instituting such measures. . What steps should I take? Avoid sharing household items such as dishes, eating utensils, cups and towels. Aug. 17SCHUYLKILL HAVEN The Schuylkill Haven Area School District wasted no time in putting the new Lehigh Valley Health Network Sports Performance Center to use. But not all infectious disease experts agree on this. St. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, available to health professionals for about a year, a milestone of 200 million people fully vaccinated, cases and hospitalizations are spiking again, largely driven by the unvaccinated population. The situation is not as dire as last years surge, before the public had any access to COVID-19 vaccines, but the roughly 60% of the U.S. population that is fully vaccinated is not enough to prevent hot spots. ML _f0Ie6EIopY}fCul*( Researchers said the results are only applicable to the delta strain and only the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine was examined. Some staff members may still feel uncomfortable coming to campus due to concerns about their health. How is noncompliance with the booster requirement addressed? Get detailed information about COVID-19, and vaccine safety and effectiveness at LVHN.org/vaccineFAQ, SLUHN.org and goodshepherdrehab.org. On Sept. 9, President Joe Biden issued executive orders that, among other things, would have required private businesses with more than 100 employees to have their employees either get their COVID-19 shots or get tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis and would have had a deadline of Jan. 4. Weekly testing is required for those who are exempted. Lehigh Valley Health Network is closing five medical offices in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to a letter that, LVHN spokesman Brian Downs confirmed, was sent to some employees. I lost my vaccine card. LVHN president gives annual report - Times News Online YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Workplace Health Services - Lehigh Valley Health Network If you have any questions on your system or space please contact your building manager to review. A Pennsylvania hospital chain announces it will not require employees who had COVID-19 to get vaccinated for 12 months after their positive tests. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 23504 or Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org and notify her of your condition. If you received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma after you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 to prevent you from getting sick, you should wait 30 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. We are the region's largest employer and the health care provider of choice for more people in the region. As a result, LVHN's Signs are downloadable for individual printing on the Resources page of this website. 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. LVHN temporarily closing urgent care center in Carbon County Who should faculty and staff contact for questions regarding updating vaccination status or submitting a request for an exemption from the vaccination requirement? If you fall into the CDC-defined category of people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to a serious underlying medical condition, you may submit a confidential request for a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act by submitting these forms through email at incovada@lehigh.edu. The four levels address topics such as wearing a mask in our facilities, eating in our cafeterias, attending community meetings and more. If you arrive on campus and begin to feel symptoms consistent with COVID-19, immediately notify your supervisor or department chair and go home. 23504 or Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org . Love Where You Work! Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com. Concentra has acquired LVHNs occupational health business inBethlehemandAllentown. The dividers at these locations will remain in place at present. %PDF-1.7 % Anne Baum on LinkedIn: LVHN Heart and Vascular Expertise Gets Global PDF Lehigh Valley Health Network Policy for COVID and Influenza Vaccines 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. 86N{L.=8kZ'=Bj,+=L`+zA ^,`5$gx;v4Osxc? z> Staff may use any type of paid leave to accommodate the need to stay home or leave campus early. For all undergraduate and graduate students: If a student tests positive for COVID-19, including those living off-campus, the student must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days. If you don't feel well: Stay home and notify your supervisor or department chair. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Vaccine providers may not require you to show your vaccination card to get a booster or may be able to provide you with separate documentation that you received a booster. If you've had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Lehigh Valley Health Network can help. 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. Vision exams Onsite services are performed at the same cost of the service in-clinic plus an hourly fee and travel for the medical personnel performing the specific service (s). 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). Do I need to get a booster even if I am fully vaccinated and/or tested positive for COVID? Ive received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Faculty and staff must continue to monitor personal health for symptoms and risk of exposure. 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. Good Shepherd is based in Allentown. 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 Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines We are limiting plexiglass to areas marked by frequent transactions or similar places of high interaction. Given the unpredictability of COVID in general and delta in particular, our best defense is universal vaccination, the sooner the better, Zurlo said. Please allow a few weeks before this process is complete. ]oeaf4{hM>,O G!&B{] COVID-19 Help Center As your health partner, LVHN provides all the COVID-19 information you need in one place. The Morning Call. LVHN is closing its COVID-19 vaccine clinics. The university will not share confidential health information. 389 0 obj <> endobj The . 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. Some readers want LVHN to reveal department of employee with coronavirus. 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. I am a staff or faculty member. However, if they choose to share this with you, treat this as confidential information and follow up with Christine Wolfe or Human Resources to make sure the information and all services are being extended. LVHN Sports Performance Center at Schuylkill Haven: Nothing like it 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. Can I have copies of the safety reminder signs to put up in my office? (Cant see the Pa. vaccination rates map? COVID-19 Help Center - Lehigh Valley Health Network If addressing the concern directly is not an option, or if you are not satisfied with the response you receive or the behavior doesnt stop, you may report the concern by completing this form athttp://lehigh.edu/go/covidreporting. The remaining employees received either permanent medical or religious exemptions or temporary exemptions due to having natural immunity after contracting COVID-19. 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 should self-isolate, follow a primary care physicians advice, notify your supervisor or department chair of your absence, and notify Lehigh by contacting the universitys Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network, Christine Wolfe,RN, at 610-861-8080 ext. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Faculty or staff should not request information about students vaccination status. Lehigh Valley Health Network is headquartered in Salisbury Township. Where can I find more information about boosters? Phone: 610 -402-1880 Fax: 610-402-1203 Matching 403b and a defined pension program Dr. Alex Benjamin . Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) remains vigilant as the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) evolves, and we are committed to being your partner in health in these unprecedented times. prd|^DLL{!"2Jl[>!(/$+Jf|vP]3t"fHs Cu TowZ;,HKZ*2+aCvOPH;!cWp0iCiAfJiqbU,9\2"+$@K<8 d#SqZ7'!OE%.^~'eQ5% v7Xa;gc^qomH}ZvoW!62O)7O3]pikx=^H[02JJzCss{hw]y@)Qs^ |m x Nearly all LVHN employees complied with COVID-19 vaccine mandate hb```)ry ae`aq%TnPm[=``j`j`@S4Bb "EL0+0ez7F|OggfFu$f -"H mYg* ]A/ 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. Our journalism needs your support. 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. Some readers who have been at Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street in . GO: The Campaign for LehighBe part of the most ambitious fundraising and engagement effort in Lehigh's history. 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. Faculty and staff noncompliance will be addressed at the college and stem level as a violation of workplace and university policy. If the instructor is too sick to teach, the class can be rescheduled or an alternative instructor can be found. The university will not share confidential health information. Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com. The cold weather, Thanksgiving gatherings and a big rebound in holiday travel are all believed to be playing a role, along with public weariness with pandemic restrictions. LVHN to close COVID clinics, will offer vaccines at practices Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has four different operations levels based on the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. From low to high risk, the levels are: green, yellow, orange and red. Are there any additional sick leave accommodations provided for staff? for lists of local testing resources. 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. Quarantine: separates and restricts the movements of those who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick. Sodexo Manager 3, Regional Operations Support Job in Allentown, PA Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Under St. Lukes and LVHNs new policies, individuals who were infected with COVID-19 and recovered can defer their shots for up to 12 months from the date tested positive. 412 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[389 38 428 1]/Info 388 0 R/Length 116/Prev 381408/Root 390 0 R/Size 429/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream MyLVHN - Schedule an Appointment Online scheduling is currently disabled Please call us at 888-402-LVHN (5846) to schedule an appointment. Corona: What rules still apply in Munich and Bavaria Students with an approved exemption will be required to comply with the university's COVID-19 surveillance testing program and other preventive measures including, but not limited to, masking, social distancing and isolation/quarantine protocols, as determined by the university. The facility is opening due to the increased demand for COVID-19 testing. Full information about Lehigh's partnership with LVHN for COVID-19 related employee health services can be found here. This applies if you live on or off campus. LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. - Lehigh Valley Health Network said Friday it will be closing its COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. Visit But even as the U.S. closes in on a milestone of 200 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19, cases and hospitalizations are spiking again, including in highly inoculated corners of the country like New England. < This benefit is available to all Lehigh staff and faculty, regardless of whether they participate in the University's medical insurance plans. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Caitlin Leidy at crl215@lehigh.edu or Patricia Florkowski at pjg209@lehigh.edu. However, Dr. Michael Nussenzweig, one of the studys authors and head of Rockefellers Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, said in this instance benefits dont outweigh risks. Speak with a nurse to assess COVID and other symptoms, answer your questions, and discuss your testing options. 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. PDF Lehigh Valley Health Network COVID-19 Assess and Test Locations Is the University still looking at air changes and ventilation? If a student volunteers such information, faculty must not ask about the reasons why a student is or is not vaccinated. O'Donnell doesn't agree with the area's major hospitals - LVHN, St. Lukes and Good Shepherd- which are mandating all their employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has four different operations levels based on the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. You can obtain a test at many local health centers and pharmacies as well. Contact your school or place of employment about specific COVID-19 guidelines before returning. On Wednesday, Pfizer said that the initial two shots of its vaccine appear significantly less effective against omicron but that a booster dose may offer important protection. 6DGamY'N{o)Z{aG>;-p~ t{@m 2R{8yrT[m'BNfk34Yn?gej &e"FL8O)x{Ko yIWk.x,Jj!iWE@`. 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