Employee

April 23, 2020 Update

• • • • • • • • When working in an area that is used by other staff (reception) or in a shared office
              • Any job related activity that causes you to enter any indoor facility or enclosed space besides their own residence
              • While outdoors when you are not able to maintain a six-foot distance from another person at all times
              • Driving with another staff member. If you are alone in your own vehicle, facial coverings are not required

Please note: Staff are to wear facial coverings when entering their work site and when in common areas such as the lobby,hallways and kitchen areas or when entering another person’s office space. Facial coverings can be removed when staff are in a private office with the door closed.

April 3, 2020 Update

• • • • • • • • The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which includes the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act went into effect on April 1, 2020. Paycom has been updated with two new leave options, Paid Sick Leave Self (PSL Self) and Paid Sick Leave Family and Dependent (PSL Family and Dependent). Active Staff will have access to this additional sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Additionally, the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act went into effect on April 1, 2019 and is available to qualifying staff members based on COVID -19 related reasons.  The criteria for the Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Family and Medical leave is very specific to COVID-19 related reasons through December 31, 2020. Additional details can be found in this document Emp. Sick Leave notice

• • • • • • • • To ensure that all staff are equipped with the information and knowledge to know when it is safe to work at your worksite, the following expanded guidelines regarding when you come into the office have been developed
                • • • If you have any of the following symptoms it is ok to work at your worksite/office
                      • • Itchy watery eyes
                        • Runny nose
                        • Scratchy throat
                    • If you have any of the following symptoms you should work from home or call in sick
                      • • Fever within the last 24 hours
                        • Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
                        • Cough that would cause you to want to wear a mask or if had difficulty controlling your cough
                    • If you have had known exposure to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have symptoms you are just not sure about, stay home and contact your healthcare provider or the Priority Care Center.

The Humboldt IPA would like to give all of you access to our paid Zoom license, for you to connect with your family, friends and loved ones during this time. Zoom is available to everyone for free, however the free version has limitations, including the number of people that can be on the video/call at once. The Humboldt IPA license, among other things, allows for up to 100 participants. If you would like to take advantage of this and set up calls/video-chats please contact Rosemary.  There are also several other ways to connect with your loved ones during this time including an app called ‘House Party’.

• • • • • • • As an essential service, it is very important for all staff to remain diligent in practicing social distancing, good hand hygiene and cleaning your work space.  Currently approx. 25% of our staff are either working from home or have had a reduction in hours due to site closures etc. This has greatly increased our social distancing capacity, however additional efforts are still needed. If you would like to consider working from home, please talk with your supervisor.
            • For those staff that are continuing to come into the IPA/PCC locations, strict social distancing adherence is required. There should be no more than 2 people in the kitchen areas at one time, and all meetings should be done via phone or zoom. PCC staff, as much as possible, should work at least 6 feet apart, when at their desk, and to limit staff interactions as much as possible. Administration is actively planning for more telemedicine/phone visits with patients, to limit patient interactions as well.
            • All staff should do their part to stay well, monitor themselves for any COVID-19 like symptoms and to self-isolate as needed.

• • • • • • • Shelter in Place order: Healthcare services are considered an essential service, so the IPA and PCC will continue to operate. The IPA offices will remain closed to outsiders and staff will continue to work in their office or from home . This situation is extremely fluid and updates will be provided as things change.
            • CR Student Health Center will be closed until April 9th . At that time, the situation will be reevaluated, and if appropriate the health center will reopen. Mental Health services will be provided via phone/Zoom for CR students starting on March 23rd.
            • Most health plans are allowing for telemedicine and phone visits during this time, and will be reimbursing for these visits. The IPA will be reimbursing for these services as well. Rosemary will be drafting a message for IPA network providers, with information about this as it pertains to the health plans that the IPA administers.
            • On a lighter note, tip from Rosemary’s dad: When you are out in public at the store etc. place a disinfectant hand wipe in each of your coat pockets and when you have to touch something, like a cart, an item on the shelf, or the self-checkout screen, simply put your hand in your pocket and wipe them off. If you or any of your loved ones have other helpful tip, please share them.