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. 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. During the semester, the Lehigh COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily during the week with the most current case information. We are the region's largest employer and the health care provider of choice for more people in the region. We are continuing with the strategy we initiated last summer to most safely provide a fully functioning campus through widespread vaccination. LVHN also said patients who have recently had COVID can defer boosters for at least three months following their diagnosis, as the illness can provide a significant immune system boost. For example, because someone is choosing to wear a mask (beyond any university requirements), complete the symptom checker, or complete other protocols is not necessarily indicative of their vaccination status. Does Lehigh have COVID-19 related health services for staff and faculty? Our partnership includes an LVHN Employee Health Nurse Case Manager, Christine Wolfe RN, who serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. Health Services Administrator (Current Employee) - LVPG - September 28, 2022 Culture is awful, no orientation for new managers, way too many software programs that don't communicate, shifting priorities, terrible communication. Yes. COVID-19 Help Center As your health partner, LVHN provides all the COVID-19 information you need in one place. Widespread vaccination in the fall allowed us to operate as an in-person campus. The four levels address topics such as wearing a mask in our facilities, eating in our cafeterias, attending community meetings and more. Lehigh Valley Health Network will officially close its five COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Whitehall, Easton, Hazleton, Pottsville and East Stroudsburg (as well as the network's mobile vaccination . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Who should faculty and staff contact for questions regarding updating vaccination status or submitting a request for an exemption from the vaccination requirement? If a student tests positive for COVID-19, including those living off-campus, the student must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days. P.C. He said there are considerations for employers such as how they will establish whether somebody had COVID-19 as well as determining how long they will allow employees to defer their shots. Given the waning effectiveness of vaccines over time, the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, and mounting evidence that boosters provide additional protection against COVID, Lehigh is requiring the COVID booster as an extension of the universitys COVID vaccination requirement for all eligible students, faculty and staff who did not receive an approved medical or religious exemption. endstream endobj 393 0 obj <>stream LVHN is closing its COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Phone: 610 -402-1880 Fax: 610-402-1203 You can obtain a test at many local health centers and pharmacies as well. Why one board member is criticizing process, New Jersey trooper shooting suspect caught, recent study by researchers at Rockefeller University, more than twice as likely to be reinfected with COVID-19, centers for disease control and prevention, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. (Cant see the Pa. case rate chart? Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. If you have any challenges scheduling, or need to contact us regarding your COVID vaccination, please call us at : 833-LVHN-CVD (833-584-6283). Speak with a nurse to assess COVID and other symptoms, answer your questions, and discuss your testing options. 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. Ive received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Pain at the injection site, headache, muscle aches, low-grade fever and nausea are common. (Cant see the Pa. vaccination rates map? You may also consult with Human Resources at. Employee Health - LVHN-CC . If you test positive for COVID, contact the universitys Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network, Christine Wolfe, RN, at 610-861-8080 ext. You can start here and watch the video that provides guidance about your next steps. LVHN is one of the nation's most advanced health networks, offering comprehensive care in 95 clinical specialties. Virtually all in-clinic services are available to be scheduled and performed onsite with the proper conditions. 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. Coronavirus (COVID-19): Latest Updates . Christine serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. Please do not send us any additional information other than what is requested in the form above. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has four different operations levels based on the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. 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. We welcome your questions, ideas and suggestions. \@[gp7~Ijm]@.LHW@s;>\Cb+n2ift3tK[-gOGFJ*E=-5ZrrAxQ!5o95=-B ! .~ Even as school board . While an individual always has the option of sharing their vaccination status personally, the university will not share someone's vaccination status or personal information. For students who are experiencing symptoms, we have partnered with the Lehigh Valley Health Network as a supplemental resource to provide access to their 24/7 nurse triage line (1-888-402-LVHN). Be part of the most ambitious fundraising and engagement effort in Lehigh's history. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. For minor pains, illnesses or allergies, get answers any time of the day or night with an ExpressCARE Video Visit. St. Lukes leadership will also reassess the deferral requests and may update or alter guidance later based on new information. If you want your COVID-19 vaccination quickly, sign up for or enroll in a MyLVHN account. Love Where You Work! The Associated Press contributed to this report. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Thank you for your interest in Lehigh Valley Health Network. If you fall into the CDC-defined category of people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to a, , you may submit a confidential request for a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act by submitting these forms through email at, If you are 65 years of age or older (another higher risk category defined by the CDC) or do not have an underlying medical condition but are generally concerned about returning to campus, please talk with your department chair or supervisor about modifications (such as flexplace arrangements, flexible schedules or workspace modifications) that may allow you to perform your position accountabilities effectively and productively. What do I do? Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Nearly all LVHN employees complied with COVID-19 vaccine mandate, 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. Contact the universitys Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network. MyLVHN - Schedule an Appointment Online scheduling is currently disabled Please call us at 888-402-LVHN (5846) to schedule an appointment. Leif Greiss is a reporter covering hospitals and health care in the Lehigh Valley. Is the University still looking at air changes and ventilation? What happens if I dont comply with the faculty/staff COVID vaccination requirement? 426 0 obj <>stream Call 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. Please allow a few weeks before this process is complete. If the instructor is too sick to teach, the class can be rescheduled or an alternative instructor can be found. If I received a medical or religious exemption from Lehighs COVID Vaccination requirement, do I need to submit any additional documentation? ]oeaf4{hM>,O G!&B{] Contact a LVHN employee health nurse. We understand that some students are hesitant to report a positive test for fear of falling behind in classes. Sodexo is seeking a full-time Manager 3, Regional Operations Support to support new business and/or vacancies throughout the entire US in Food and Environmental Services for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, located in Allentown, PA. What do I do if I suspect I have COVID-19? 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. To better support the health and safety of Lehigh faculty and staff as we return to campus, the University has partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) for occupational health services and for medical consultation for planning purposes. f;Ik0yDrEHP lM wl'9y $ mad` "Our colleagues have chosen to do the right thing to protect themselves and the community by getting vaccinated against COVID-19," said LVHN spokesperson Brian Downs. You should take an at-home COVID antigen test or contact your primary care physician first and follow their advice. Both of the major health networks in the Lehigh Valley have COVID-19 vaccine mandates in place for employees, but if any employee contracted COVID-19 themselves, they are allowed to defer. 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. Lastly, because new medical research has yet to be evaluated or peer-reviewed, it should not be used to guide clinical practice, according to medRxiv, the preprint server the study was posted on. For insurance purposes, it may be important to obtain a test in your county of residence or via your primary healthcare provider. LVHN can help those who do not have a primary care provider. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. 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. For insurance purposes, it may be important to obtain a test in your county of residence or via your primary healthcare provider. For more information on Lehighs COVID-19 related health services partnership with LVHN, more guidance on boosters, including eligibility, on the CDC website. 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. Studies have shown that vaccination is effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID, but vaccination protection against the virus and variants decreases over time. There are limitations, though. . 4T@kR[4\P! 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. Its not the same as the medical or religious ones where there are laws in place that deal with that.. In both instances, arguments were made that plaintiffs should be exempt from mandates because they had already been infected with COVID-19. 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. On Monday, Aug. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The remaining employees received either permanent medical or religious exemptions or temporary exemptions due to having natural immunity after contracting COVID-19. Refer to our isolation and quarantining protocol for what to expect if you live on or off campus. No. From low to high risk, the levels are: green, yellow, orange and red. endstream endobj 395 0 obj <>stream That's the message from Lehigh Valley Health Network, according to a news release. Given the waning effectiveness of vaccines over time, the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, and mounting evidence that boosters provide additional protection against COVID, Lehigh is requiring the COVID booster as. '2u&"2U(g/CHtO )D1nq1dY,{,5((ADE{'9K2Y`z;p'YNwC|Wh8 I)yPj$C"gx_rTe6399Pa+3|Ypt5ZWM14'KTVQJ!B (F(Mja_EGgLteFQF,$8~~] HveCexUzQ&!P3?Vm+kEfTs^-{/mbXL$eL'2. Faculty with questions about medical exemptions or general information related to the process for submitting vaccination information should contact the Provosts Office at provost@lehigh.edu and staff should contact Human Resources at inhro@lehigh.edu. 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. Call 610-861-8080, select 5 to bypass menu and enter extension 21237. Under the executive orders, federal employees, federal contractors and health care workers at facilities that receive Medicaid and Medicare funds would also have been required to get vaccinated and will not have an option for weekly testing. The researchers also said they may have underestimated asymptomatic infections and the results may be confounded by certain factors like health behaviors and chronic illness among vaccinated subjects. If you've had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Lehigh Valley Health Network can help. How do faculty and staff submit their vaccination and booster documentation? 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. Given the unpredictability of COVID in general and delta in particular, our best defense is universal vaccination, the sooner the better, Zurlo said. She serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19 and facilitates care through recovery and return to work for any employees who suspect exposure or may test positive for COVID-19, working closely with Lehigh Human Resources throughout the process.