COVID news
Massini: Eligible recipients to receive vaccine when available
In an email to Penn State Health and College of Medicine employees today, Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini discusses the expanded vaccine eligibility – previously limited to the state’s health care workforce – to now include members of the general public age 65 and older, and those ages 16 to 64 with high-risk health conditions.
“I know many of you are wondering when our patients and loved ones who fall into this category will be offered the vaccine. The short answer is, we haven’t yet received enough vaccines to schedule many of these appointments – but as soon as we can, we will. We have been working with our providers to identify eligible patients who are most at risk for getting seriously ill if they contract COVID-19 and vaccinating those patients as we can.”
Employees who want COVID-19 vaccine should schedule it now
All employees should have received an email invitation to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointment from the covid19vaccine email box. The subject line reads: “Important COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling Information.” Many Penn State Health and College of Medicine employees and students have taken advantage of this opportunity. Nearly 70% of our workforce has elected to receive the vaccine.
On Jan. 19, the Pennsylvania Department of Health significantly expanded the groups of individuals eligible to receive the vaccine in its Phase 1a distribution. This directive now shifts much of our health system’s vaccination focus to serving our patients.
Penn State Health and College of Medicine employees who have not yet received their first dose and wish to receive the vaccine should schedule their appointment by Friday, Jan. 29. After that date, the vaccine clinics will shift to focus fully on administering second doses to employees and students, and to care for our patients and community medical partners.
Employees should use the links that were included in the email invitation to schedule. Employees who are not patient-facing should schedule their appointments at either St. Joseph or Holy Spirit.
In the near future, new hires and employees who wish to receive the vaccine at a later date can use a process being established with Employee Health.
For more information about the vaccines and the vaccination process, visit the Employee FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine available on the Infonet.
Your COVID-19 vaccine questions answered
The Employee FAQs about the COVID-19 vaccine have been updated to provide some additional information to previously answered questions and include some questions from the Jan. 13 Penn State Health town hall. Here we highlight two:
Q: Will employees be charged for the vaccine?
A: There is no cost to employees or students receiving the vaccine through Penn State Health distribution methods.
Q: Can I take the first dose from Pfizer and take the second dose from another pharmaceutical company such as Moderna?
A: No, you must stay with the same vaccine manufacturer. Mixed vaccines have not been studied.
New aerosol-generating procedures guidance provides additional COVID-19 protection
Hershey Medical Center developed new staff guidance for COVID-19-negative patients receiving aerosol-generating procedures during times when the spread of the illness is severe.
Clinical leaders have determined that certain aerosol-generating procedures can create an increased risk for COVID-19 transmission. The new guidance entitled “Guidance Concerning Practices for Aerosolizing Generating Procedures for COVID-19 Negative Patients During High Community Spread” has been developed to provide additional protection for Hershey staff.
The guidance affects all Hershey Medical Center patients receiving the following procedures regardless of their COVID-19 status, except those who receive the procedures 24/7:
- Nebulizers
- Continuous positive airway pressure therapy/bilevel positive airway pressure
- Open suctioning of patients such as nasotracheal suctioning or via trach (not using closed/inline suction)
- Intubation/extubation
- Tracheostomy with humidity
- Invasive Mechanical Ventilation on an open circuit (unfiltered)
Hershey staff must follow these protocols when inpatients undergo aerosol-generating procedures regardless of the patient’s COVID-19 status.
The new guidance addresses pre-procedure, procedure and post-procedure protocols, including:
- Posting signs and documenting required information
- Wearing the designated personal protective equipment
- Limiting staff in the room
- Adhering to air-exchange requirements
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces
Penn State Health increases weekly ear-loop mask distribution
Starting this week, Penn State Health employees who work in patient care areas at Hershey Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center and outpatient clinics will receive extra personal protective equipment (PPE).
The weekly distribution of ear-loop masks will now include two for each employee. Prior to this week, employees in patient care areas had received one ear-loop mask per week.
The change reflects the supply chain team’s success in securing additional PPE. “We are committed to our employees’ protection and are excited about this opportunity to provide additional masks,” said Richard Bagley, Penn State Health’s senior vice president and chief supply chain officer.
College of Medicine pandemic response Friday round-up ― week of Jan. 18-22
College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on Jan. 22 about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- COM town hall recap: Black and a panel of College experts held a town hall on Jan. 19 to help answer key questions about the COVID-19 vaccine efforts, human resources questions related to COVID as well as research and student-specific questions. Here is a recording of the session. Visit this dedicated web page for answers to frequently asked questions.
- Sign up to receive vaccine: All faculty, staff and students should have received emails to sign up for the vaccine. The email will be from “covid19vaccine,” and the subject line will read “Important COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling Information.” We strongly encourage you to take the vaccine while it is available internally to our faculty, staff and students.
- COM safety guidelines remain unchanged: It is important to note that while the vaccine is very effective in preventing disease and mortality, it is currently unknown whether it decreases viral transmission. Therefore, it is critical that everyone continue to mask and maintain appropriate physical distance.
Replay of COVID vaccine education town hall available
Watch the replay of the Jan. 27 COVID-19 Vaccine Education town hall. Penn State Health leadership and faculty from Hershey Medical Center and the College of Medicine discussed common concerns about the vaccine and answered employee questions.
People
Cheng elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Dr. Keith Cheng, distinguished professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the College of Medicine, was among seven Penn State faculty members elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2020.
Cheng, a researcher at Penn State Cancer Institute, was recognized for distinguished contributions to functional genomics and imaging, particularly related to zebrafish as a model organism for human disease and skin pigmentation genetics.
“On behalf of the research community at the College of Medicine, I congratulate Keith on this career milestone,” said Dr. Leslie Parent, vice dean for Research and Graduate Studies. “His work with model organisms and next-generation imaging techniques will shape the way researchers study, diagnose and treat human diseases.”
The AAAS is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society. Individual members represent 91 countries around the globe.
Joshi appointed chief scientific officer of Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium
Dr. Monika Joshi, associate professor of medicine at the College of Medicine and medical oncologist at Penn State Cancer Institute, has been named chief scientific officer of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.
She will provide support to Big Ten cancer center directors in the next few years as they continue to explore philanthropic support, provide opportunities for young investigator development, increase participation from cancer experts from all institutions and enhance study development and activation through streamlining processes.
“She has been an exceptional medical director for our Clinical Trials Office at the Cancer Institute,” said Dr. Mitchell Machtay, associate director of clinical research at Penn State Cancer Institute. “I know she brings the same level of excellence, creativity and integrity to the consortium. Not all Big Ten heroes wear a football jersey – Dr. Joshi is a rising star!”
Employees honored for work milestones
Congratulations to Penn State Health employees celebrating a milestone work anniversary between Jan. 20 and Jan. 26. They put our values into action every day.
Events
Penn State collaborative presents autism discussion for parents Feb. 3
The Penn State Autism and Developmental Disorders Collaborative will host a virtual discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from noon to 1 p.m. on community-engaged adaptation of a coparenting-focused prevention program for parents of children diagnosed with autism sensory disorder. Register here.
Wear red for Heart Month Feb. 5
Penn State Health employees can raise awareness about heart disease and save lives by wearing red on National Go Red Day, Friday, Feb. 5.
Penn State Health and the College of Medicine want faculty, staff and volunteers to snap a selfie (no group pictures due to COVID-19) and post it to their personal social media accounts with the hashtag #WearRedDay. Tag the location as:
@pennsthershey or @pennstatehealthstjoseph on Facebook
@pennsthershey or @stjoesreading on Twitter
@pennstatehershey on Instagram
pennstatehealth or st-joseph-regional-health-network on LinkedIn
Employees can also upload selfies to this email box. The Office of Marketing and Communications will use all submitted photos to create a collage shaped like the American Heart Association’s iconic red dress.
St. Joseph medical interpreter leads Women2Women event Feb. 11
Women2Women’s February digital events feature two Berks County residents, including a Penn State Health St. Joseph staff member.
Susana Tercero, a St. Joseph medical interpreter, will lead “Cultural Diversity and Cultural Awareness: Stories from a COVID-19 Front-Line Interpreter” on Thursday, Feb. 11, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tercero, who lived abroad for more than 30 years, will focus her presentation on how that experience informs her job.
Michelle Lehman, Alvernia University’s director for student and client services, will present “Passing the Baton: Mentoring the Next Generation” on Wednesday, Feb. 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The presentation will focus on the value of cross-generational mentoring and how women can actively evolve together.
To register for either event, email Devon Fiore, events coordinator for the chamber. Penn State Health St. Joseph is a founding sponsor of Women2Women.
Mandated reporter training available Feb. 19
The American Academy of Pediatrics will present “Recognizing and Responding to Children at Risk” on Friday, Feb. 19, from 7 to 9 a.m. via Zoom.
The two-hour mandated reporting training is open to 75 licensed professionals. Pre-registration is required. Register by contacting the Holy Spirit Medical Center Quality Department at 717-972-4286 or email cmattrick@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. The deadline is Friday, Feb 5.
In order to have the completion credit sent to the individual’s respective licensing board, pre-registration requires the following information:
- Employee’s name, exactly as it appears on his or her license
- License number
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of Social Security number
This training is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Research
Researchers study patterns of opioid use in metastatic breast cancer patients
A group of researchers from Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Cancer Institute said metastatic breast cancer patients are taking smaller doses of opioid prescriptions over decreased amounts of time. The results from a study published in Scientific Reports indicate that clinicians may be more aware of the negative impacts of prolonged opioid use and are seeking alternative pain management options.
“This study helps us to understand the current management of pain for people with metastatic breast cancer so we can target our efforts to help women live as well as possible with their disease,” said Dr. Kristina Newport, chief of palliative medicine at Hershey Medical Center.
Read more about this research.
Other news
President’s Perspective: Berini talks strategy
In her January President’s Perspective, Hershey Medical Center President Deborah Berini discusses the importance of a new strategic plan in ensuring Hershey’s success as the region’s only locally based academic medical center. She explains why forecasting trends and health care delivery changes play a critical role in determining how best to give care, train caregivers and approach critical research.
Berini also addresses:
- The guideposts that directed the leadership’s work
- Next steps in finalizing the five-year strategic plan
- The need for all employees to understand the plan and help advance it
Frank: Investing in our staff and the patient experience
Joe Frank, interim president of Penn State Health St. Joseph, sent employees an email Jan. 26 highlighting the many projects underway on the Downtown Reading and Bern Township campuses.
Among the highlighted improvements are a four-phase renovation of the hospital’s catheterization laboratory spaces and the rollout of a new Siemens MRI unit.
“These priority projects will have a positive impact on both clinical staff and patient experience for years to come and signify Penn State Health’s commitment to invest in the future of St. Joseph Medical Center,” Frank said.
New patient-led podcast helps young adults with cancer navigate ‘Life on Pause’
Ryan Dellinger never expected that his senior year of high school would be sidelined by cancer treatments.
Likewise, when Lauren Kauffman began planning her wedding, she never dreamed her trousseau would include a wig to replace her hair lost to treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“At least I didn’t have to worry about getting my hair done – it was in a box,” the Carlisle resident quipped, using humor to deflect an experience that she says felt like “the end of the world” when she was diagnosed.
To help other young adults facing cancer, Kauffman and Dellinger are part of a groundbreaking podcast called “Life on Pause,” Penn State Health’s first external podcast hosted by cancer patients.
Alumnus gift supports dermatology fellow training in skin cancer surgery
Dermatology fellows at the College of Medicine are using a new camera system for microscopes to learn to care for skin cancer patients, thanks to the support of a College of Medicine alumnus.
Dr. Algin Garrett, a renowned Mohs surgeon and dermatologist, made a gift to the College of Medicine and Department of Dermatology to enrich the learning environment for post-residency fellows in Mohs surgery, a procedure used to treat skin cancers.
“It is our hope that Dr. Garrett’s gift will give our trainees superior learning experiences and optimize the care of patients,” said Dr. Todd Cartee, director of the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship.
‘Engage’ podcast highlights challenges of rural health care
Dr. George Garrow, chief medical officer of The Primary Health Network, discusses the challenges of rural health care on Episode 7 of Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s “Engage” podcast. “Engage” is available on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Employee mandatory training starts today
The 2021 annual employee training modules open today and must be completed by Monday, May 31. The modules are:
- Compliance
- Cybersecurity and Privacy Awareness
- Microaggression/Unconscious Bias and Patient Bias Prevention
- Annual Safety Training
Employees will receive separate training assignments in the Compass or LION platforms.
Wellness Wednesday: tips to quit smoking
When quitting tobacco/nicotine, cravings are inevitable. However, there are some steps you can take to minimize the urge.
Know your triggers. Recognize people, places and things you associate with tobacco/nicotine and avoid them until you’re strong enough to resist the temptation.
- People: If you have a smoking buddy at work, politely explain you’re quitting and won’t be joining them outside for your routine break.
- Places: If your vape spot is a particular chair on your deck or porch, avoid sitting in it or move it elsewhere to weaken its association with nicotine.
- Things: If you enjoy smoking or chew after your morning coffee, try swapping it with a brisk walk for a morning jolt of energy.
Penn State University’s quitting tobacco program.
Check out the BeWell Employee Wellness Toolkit, and for information on wellness resources, visit the PRO Wellness BeWell Employee Wellness website.
Reminder: Holy Spirit, Life Lion LLC access to Geisinger email, SharePoint ends Jan. 31
Access to Geisinger email, email folders and SharePoint for all former Geisinger Holy Spirit, Spirit Physician Services Inc. and West Shore Advanced Life Support employees ends Sunday, Jan. 31. An automated migration tool will not be available. Staff should continue to transfer manually their emails and files to Penn State Health systems. Two methods to transfer manually are:
- Forward individual emails to your @pennstatehealth.psu.edu email address.
- Create a new email message and attached a group of emails to the new email message.
Then send the email message to your @pennstatehealth.psu.edu email address. Note that there is a 25 MB limit on email message size.
Email contacts and calendar appoints should be recreated in the Penn State Health email. It is recommended that you recreate your contacts before your calendar appointments so all of your contacts are available. See the Holy Spirit Information Services page on the Infonet for job aids. If you have questions about where to store SharePoint files, please discuss with your departmental leadership.
Food drive benefits Lion’s Pantry, other charities
The Staff Morale Work Group at Hershey Medical Center is accepting canned foods and nonperishable items to benefit the Lion’s Pantry and other charities Friday, Jan. 29, through Friday, Feb. 5.
Items can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Main Entrance
- North Entrance
- College of Medicine Entrance
- South Garage Entrance
- Children’s Hospital Entrance
- University Physician Center Entrance
For more information or questions, contact David Simmons at dsimmons@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.