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Update: August 4, 2021

—FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATION ONLY—

Thought of the Day: “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” –Albert Einstein

State Stats
  • 557,540 COVID-19 positive cases (up 15,561 since Aug. 2)
  • 11,085 COVID-19 patient deaths (up 86 since Aug. 2)
  • 2,112 COVID-19 patients hospitalized (up 372 since Aug. 2)
  • 222 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (up 55 since Aug. 2)
  • The positivity rate for Tangipahoa Parish is 16.7%.
  • By now, many of you have seen the Governor’s press conference held on Monday, Aug. 2, where everyone stated that the best way to stop this surge is through masking and vaccination. A statewide mask mandate became effective today.
    • NOHS Stats
      • NOMC:
        • 109 COVID-19 patients hospitalized (up 20 since Aug. 2)
        • 15 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (up 2 since Aug. 2)
        • 5 COVID-19 patient deaths since Aug. 2
      • NORH: 19 patients (2 COVID-19 positive); 2-3 possible patient admissions
      • Hood: 13 hospitalized (0 COVID-19 positive); 3 COVID-19 patients in the Emergency Department awaiting acute care bed placement; 5 employees out monitoring
      • Tested 31,970 with 7 tests pending (up 325 since Aug. 2)
      • 4,757 positive test results for inpatients/outpatients combined (up 102 since Aug. 2)
      • 1,304 COVID-19 patients recovered (up 18 since Aug. 2)
      • Overall positivity rate is 14.9% (up .7 since Aug. 2).
Staffing and Volume
  • MICU 2 is full with 6 patients.
  • As of 7:30 a.m., the ER had 19 boarders, some of whom are COVID-19 positive.
  • We are on diversion for everything but trauma and stroke.
  • Dr. Robert Peltier will lead a Medical Staff call at 12:30 p.m. today. He also reports that most hospitals in Southwest and North Louisiana are just beginning to feel what we experienced a few weeks ago in terms of increasing COVID-19 cases. Hospitals to the east and west of us are paralleling or exceeding our numbers.
  • Staffing remains extremely tight, and all supplemental staffing contingency plans remain activated and working. We appreciate everyone pulling together to respond to the surge.
  • Medicine Unit I continues to be used for ER Infusion for COVID-19 positive patients and has been expanded from 6 to 12 beds. The service is offered from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. We have completed 35 infusions since Aug. 2. Of the 35, 20 infusions were administered yesterday.
  • We have suspended non-emergent elective surgeries at NOMC this week. A decision about next week’s non-emergency elective surgeries will be made Thursday. We have 11 surgeries at NOMC in the main OR, 23 at the Surgery Center, 1 Cath Lab case and 1 Endoscopy case.
  • Visitor access remains stable with visitation guidelines that became effective July 22 remaining in force. Note: Employees wishing to visit a family member while hospitalized must check-in at the front door and register. All visitation restrictions apply for the safety of the patients and staff.
  • We began offering Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing by appointment on Monday, Aug. 2. Beginning Thursday, Aug. 5, we are adding an online scheduling option for the public at covidtest.northoaks.org in addition to the option of calling Patient Scheduling at (985) 230-7777.
  • On Thursday, Aug. 5, we will reactivate the COVID-19 Screening Hotline and video visits. The hotline number is (985) 230-CV19 [2819]. It will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days/week. When the hotline is closed, the phones will roll to North Oaks Urgent Care from 5-8 p.m.
  • North Oaks physician clinics and outpatient testing areas will no longer see patients who are symptomatic or running fever. These individuals will be sent to one of our Urgent Cares or referred to the COVID-19 Screening Hotline.
  • Employee Wellness has returned 27 employees back to work since Aug. 2. This leaves 57 out monitoring symptoms at home (10 RNs; 2 respiratory therapists).
  • Supply levels are good. We have more than enough PPE.
Vaccinations
  • This Thursday, Aug. 5, North Oaks Urgent Care in Walker will begin offering vaccinations alongside the Hammond and Ponchatoula locations. Hours of operation are Monday-Sunday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Self-schedule an appointment at https://covidvaccine.northoaks.org. Yesterday, Hammond and Ponchatoula administered a combined total of 123 vaccinations.
  • If you have questions about vaccines, Dr. Robert Peltier encourages staff to reach out to him personally at ext. 7755 or via email at peltierr@northoaks.org for evidence-based answers to assist you in making a decision that is right for you. He is happy to respond confidentially by phone, email or in person. He also welcomes questions from the public at info@northoaks.org.
Infection Prevention
  • Infection Prevention reminds us to hold each other accountable for the following:
  • Pay attention to hand hygiene.
  • NO double masking.
  • Discard N95 mask after a single use.
  • Discard ear loop mask when soiled or when suspected contamination has occurred. Don a new mask as soon as possible.
  • NEVER put mask or other used PPE items down on work surfaces or on top of equipment.
  • Clean your work surfaces frequently. Never assume someone else has done the disinfection.
  • Thank you for your attention to these prevention safeguards and for the courtesy and commitment you are making to each other to ensure a safe and clean work environment.
  • For assistance or answers to questions, please contact Infection Prevention Manager Amanda Morse at ext. 6414 or Infection Prevention Nurse Ashley Foster at ext. 6440.
Public Relations/Communications
  • The New York Times visited NOMC yesterday to interview providers, nurses and COVID-19 patients for an article on the state of the coronavirus in Tangipahoa Parish and Louisiana to better depict where things stand now with the virus and how it compares to the early days of the pandemic from the perspective of those on the frontlines.
  • The Advocate and Reuters will be visiting today and tomorrow respectively to write similar feature stories.
Reminders
  • PJ’s Coffee is pleased to offer free upsizes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the month of August. Beginning this Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7 and 8, PJ’s will add weekend hours of 12-8 p.m. When ordering from your barista, please adhere to proper masking.
  • At the suggestion of employees, we are offering employees who have been vaccinated the opportunity to have a new ID badge photo taken. To take advantage of this offer, please bring your proof of vaccination card with you to North Oaks Employment Center to have a new photo taken.

COVID-19 will not win. Together, we’ve got this!

—FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATION ONLY—