New MaineHealth Guidance Issued on COVID-19 Testing for Patients
MaineHealth has issued two new guidance documents related to COVID-19 testing ahead of procedures and admissions. All clinical care team members are asked to review these documents.
The new “COVID-19 Pre-Procedure Testing,” guidance lays out a new process for determining when patients should be tested for COVID-19 ahead of procedures. This process is to be implemented by Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The new guidance, “COVID 19 Hospital Admission Testing Guidance,” is intended to replace pervious documents, “Symptomatic Hospital Admissions,” “Asymptomatic Hospital Admission Testing” and “Asymptomatic Women in Labor.”
New Round of Booster Clinics for Care Team Members
The opportunity to receive a Moderna or Pfizer booster at the Dana Center Clinic will be available again starting Thursday, Dec. 2. The clinic times are from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on the following dates:
· Thursday, Dec. 2 – Moderna only
· Tuesday, Dec. 7 – Pfizer only
· Thursday, Dec. 9 – Moderna only
· Tuesday, Dec. 14 – Pfizer only
· Thursday, Dec. 16 – Moderna only
Appointments must be scheduled and capacity is limited. To schedule a booster appointment, click here for instructions and a set of Frequently Asked Questions.
Care team members can also receive boosters at other community locations.
Please note:
· If you want to receive a booster, you must schedule an appointment; we are not accepting walk-ins.
· Remember to fill out your consent form and bring it to your appointment.
· If you received your COVID-19 vaccination record in Maine and it does not already appear in MyChart, you must import your COVID-19 records. It’s easy to do in MyChart and this video shows you how (instructions start at 1-minute mark).
· If you can, please bring your vaccination card or a photo of it.
Questions? mmccovidvaccine@mainehealth.org
Update: COVID Outbreaks
MMC is currently investigating COVIDs outbreak on R6 and R5.
The R6 outbreak investigation was officially opened on Nov. 22, and involves one positive care team member and four positive patients. The R5 outbreak investigation was opened Nov. 23, and involves two positive care team members and one patient.
The units are closed to visitors and regular mandatory testing is taking place for all impacted care team members and patients. The outbreak investigations will close 14 days after the last positive test result.
Infection Prevention monitors all patient and staff positives for potential clusters of COVID cases. Clusters of three or more of any combination of care team members/patients within a 14-day period are declared an outbreak, and physicians, nursing and ancillary staff are notified, as is the Maine CDC. At that time, additional measures are put in place to mitigate further spread.
Please be vigilant both at work and in the community. At work, please complete the daily health screener, wear appropriate PPE, practice social distancing, follow proper hand hygiene and follow all safety protocols. MMC strongly encourages care team members to get their COVID-19 booster shots, if they haven’t already.
In the community, please err on the side of caution and mask regularly, practice social distancing and carefully evaluate behaviors and weigh them against the risk of infection.
Reminder: Stay Safe, Get Your Booster Shot
This message was sent to all care team members from MMC President Jeff Sanders and MMC Chief Medical Officer Joel Botler, MD, on Monday, Nov. 22.
Dear Care Team Members,
As we enter the holiday season where family and friends are so important, we’d ask that you all do everything possible to keep them safe.
We are very thankful that the care team is vaccinated against COVID-19. That is an important patient-centered and community-centered step we have all taken, and we thank you for that.
In addition, we strongly urge all eligible care team members to get their booster shot. Just like boosters protecting us from other ailments, the COVID-19 booster will help strengthen your body’s immune response to the coronavirus.
Read more.
Wellbeing Corner
An update from the COVID-19 Colleague Wellbeing Committee.
Start With Self Care: Be Easy on Yourself
Works on Wellness (WOW) is sharing tips and tools to help you manage life’s competing demands and explore ways to boost your well-being. Today’s self care tip is Be Easy on Yourself.
Taking care of ourselves is not selfish. Tending to our own needs and practicing good self-care recharges the batteries and creates a happy, more present self. Personal energy is what pushes us out of bed and keeps us running at peak efficiency throughout the day.
We work together to care for our patients and communities - it is also important to care for ourselves. Remind yourself and coworkers that you are important. Especially as we enter the holiday season, recognize when you are overwhelmed, communicate with your team and ask for help. Your well-being is a priority.
Learn more tips and access other great wellbeing resources by clicking here.
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Check out these great resources, for us by us:
· Looking for something from a past issue of the Wellbeing Corner? Click here.
Weekly Construction Update
· Mat slab pour tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 30, beginning at 6 a.m. Trucking and pouring will be complete by 6 p.m. and work within the construction site will continue overnight.
· Mat slab pour, Thursday, Dec. 2. Trucking and pouring will be complete by 6 p.m. and work within the construction site will continue into the evening.
· Concrete infill of retaining wall continues.
· Pouring west end vertical foundation wall.
· Continuing trucking deliveries and removal of materials.
Coulombe Family Tower Receives Green Certification
The Coulombe Family Tower has received LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, provides organizations with a framework to take a more sustainable approach to the design, construction and operation of their buildings.
To receive LEED Silver certification CFT achieved high marks in many of the assessment areas including: Water Efficiency, Material & Resources, Energy & Atmosphere, Sustainable Sites and more.
Read more about LEED by clicking here. To learn more about MaineHealth Facilities sustainability achievements, click here.
Reminder: Hanukkah Ceremony Today
To mark the second night of Hanukkah, there will be a Menorah Lighting Ceremony outside of the Main Entrance of MMC today, Nov. 29, at 4:30 p.m. All are invited to attend.
On Thursday, Dec. 2, at 4 p.m., the MMC Holiday Tree Lighting will take place. MMC President Jeff Sanders will do the honors. Care team members are invited to come outside in front of the hospital for the tree lighting. Hot cocoa and cider will be available.
For a full list of upcoming holiday activities, please click here.
Help MMCRI’s Acute Care COBRE Give Back
The Acute Care Research and Rural Disparities Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) is putting together 50 cleaning and toiletry kits for Maine people in need, and they’d like your help!
The volunteer organization Maine Needs, which serves domestic abuse survivors, asylum seekers and those facing financial hardships here in Maine, says the families it serves need cleaning supplies and toiletries. MMCRI’s Acute Care COBRE will be taking donations for Maine Needs from this list of items on Dec. 6 - 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at these locations:
· AC COBRE Office: MGB 5608 MMC Bramhall Campus, Portland
· CORE: 509 Forest Ave., Suite 200, Portland
· MMCRI: 81 Research Drive, Scarborough
MMCRI is not taking cash donations or donations of items that are not on the list provided by Maine Needs. The COBRE is also looking for additional volunteers to complete the kits:
· Sign up here to deliver donations from drop off sites to MMCRI on Dec. 8
· Sign up here to assemble kits at MMCRI on Dec. 9
· Sign up here to drop off kits to Maine Needs on Dec. 10
Thank you for your commitment to our communities!
MaineHealth Raises $335k for United Way
As part of its annual United Way campaign, MaineHealth raised $335,000 for members of our community in need. From education to mental health to homelessness and food inequity, United Way funds programs that address these concerns and many more. Programs like the Good Shepherd Food Bank, LearningWorks after school program and our very own Maine Behavioral Healthcare benefit immensely from United Way donations. Thank you for helping MaineHealth support this important cause.
Final United Way Campaign Raffle Winners
Congratulations to the final United Way campaign Apple iPad and Apple Watch raffle winners. Billie Jo Welliver (pictured top left), Patient Services Representative at Maine Medical Partners, won the Apple iPad and Donna Boudreau (pictured bottom left), Talent Acquisition Specialist at MaineHealth Corporate. won the Apple Watch. Congratulation to both!
In addition, as part of the campaign, four packs of tickets to the new Children’s Museum of Maine were given to 10 lucky raffle winners. Those winners were:
· Sara Brown, MaineHealth Corporate
· Tammy Buck, Maine Medical Partners
· Marilyn Flanders, Maine Medical Center
· Alex Gingrich, Maine Behavioral Healthcare
· Robert Heflin, MaineHealth Corporate
· Ruth Kimball, Maine Medical Center
· Andrea Lai, MaineHealth Corporate
· Margaret McRae, MaineHealth Medical Group
· Mary Mork, Maine Behavioral Healthcare
· Linda Theriault, Maine Medical Center
Congratulations to all and thank you to everyone for participating in the MaineHealth United Way Campaign!
Train to be a CNA
MMC's next Certified Nursing Assistant Apprentice Program session begins Monday, January 3. For details and to sign up for the required CASAS reading assessment, please visit: mmc.org/cnaprogram.
Candidates must receive a score of 247 or higher on the CASAS, then attend a virtual information session to learn more. If you are accepted, you will be paid $16 per hour plus benefits while you are in class and clinicals and MMC will cover all training costs!
Note: Successful graduates must commit to work at MMC for a minimum of one year, at a minimum of 20 hours per week, if offered the opportunity.
More information can be found here. Questions? cnaprogram@mmc.org
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