COVID-19 Update

4/13/2020

Banner Health COVID-19 Response

Read the latest update from Banner Health for employees, patients and visitors that may be relevant for Health Sciences faculty and staff.

Banner Health is evaluating the COVID-19 response and prevention measures daily to protect employees and patients. This remains a very fluid situation and material is subject to change.

Please see important updates from Banner Health leadership below.

Housing program for health care heroes: Banner Health is now accepting applications for personnel meeting eligibility requirements for the Housing for Healthcare Heroes program, which provides housing at no cost to front line personnel involved in the care of COVID-19 patients or the preparation and/or cleaning of COVID-19 patient care areas. The program begins Thursday, April 16 and will conclude at Banner’s discretion. Banner Health team members can contact housingforourhealthcareheroes@BannerHealth.com with any questions.

Occupational Health fit testing now available: Occupational Health offers PPE fit testing at the Banner Health Tucson and South campuses and at 1101 N. Wilmot Road, Suite 101, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Banner Health Tucson campus fit testing: From 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, fit testing is also available at the Tucson campus PPE hub, located across from the Supply Chain window. For PPE-related questions, Banner Health personnel can call (520) 694-9800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Food pantry essentials pilot program for Banner Health personnel: Banner Health personnel can now stock up grocery essentials at the hospital cafeterias while supplies last. Please note that the Banner Health employee discount does not apply. Culinary team members will take orders and prepare bags at the following locations:

Banner Health Tucson campus cafeteria (at the salad bar) from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Banner Health South campus cafeteria (next to the hot food serving station) from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Questions?
Contact the Banner Health Incident Command Center from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at (520) 694-2699.

3/26/20

Here is updated information as of yesterday evening.

As some of you may be aware, the U of A has banned non-emergency travel outside of Arizona (work-related).

Banner rolled out an electronic platform that will be available immediately for video-consultation with patients. While this tool is HIPPA compliant, you may still use phones, tablets etc as we implement this tool. I know some of us were on the training yesterday but not everyone. I will find out when additional sessions will be held.

Training of medical students has quickly gone on line (thank you Drs. Horak, Khan as well as Lisa and Peggy).

I am working on a plan that will keep half of us away from the hospital and clinic for a week at a time (people can work from home via telephone or this new electronic tool). I will hopefully be able to roll this out by Monday morning when we have a Zoom update at 7:30 AM.

Please do what you can to support the local restaurants that we all love here in Tucson.

Stay safe! DML

Confirmed Cases: 401 in Arizona and 49 in Pima County according to ADHS.

Badge access: As events evolve, your badge access to certain areas may change to minimize entry. Please don’t be alarmed. This is an additional step to protect our units and team members. Contact your leader with questions.
Public testing: Those with concerns about COVID-19 symptoms or exposure can now call Banner Health at 844-549-1851 to speak with a scheduler to determine if testing is appropriate. The line will be staffed 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday. If an individual meets CDC criteria for testing, they must be scheduled for an appointment at our new drive-through site. Walk-ins are not permitted.
ED external triages ongoing: Tucson and South Campus continue screening ED patients in outside triages, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Outside of those hours patients will use the normal ED entrance. This is normal ED screening, not COVID-19 testing.
Media reminder: No contact with media should be made by any team members or providers, on any Banner property. We have a zero visitor policy in effect and this includes media. In keeping with policy, any media requests for interviews or statements must be approved by Rebecca Ruiz McGill, 520-360-0308, Rebecca.RuizMcgill@bannerhealth.com. She’ll coordinate with our official spokesperson on COVID-19, Gordon Carr, MD.

Ongoing:

Free Starbucks: Starting today through May 3, any customer who identifies as a front-line responder to the COVID-19 outbreak will receive a tall brewed coffee (hot or iced) at no charge.

Incident Command Center: All clinical decisions and operation questions MUST go through the Incident Command Center to ensure a streamlined process and keep us focused on our colleagues, patients and the community:

7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at 520-694-2699 (for team members ONLY, not the general public)

COVID-19 Response Fund: If someone you know is asking what they can do to help, you can direct them to the COVID-19 Response Fund which supports a variety of needs including community testing and drive-through sites, medical supplies and equipment and community outreach. Click here for more.

Additionally, if people or companies want to volunteer in some safe capacity or have specific goods or services they want to donate, they can complete a brief online form and a member of the Banner team will follow up to gather additional information and coordinate logistics. The online form is here.

Transfer freeze for Core to BSS Registry is extended until April 30. We will continue to re-asses in order to do what’s best for the organization. Talk to your direct leader with any questions about this.
Return-to-work guidelines: Banner is closely following all CDC recommendations, some being health care-industry specific, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please review the latest information on our return-to-work guidelines.
Redeploying team members: We’re maintaining a list of team members who are in need of redeployment. Email Kathryn.Thurman@bannerhealth.com to report team members in need of work, or any support needed in your areas.

Team member resources:

Child care updates: With closures planned through at least April 10 for Tucson-area schools, we’re working to extend child care options with our YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of Tucson partners.

Still slots open for Boys and Girls Club at no cost for Banner team members’ children ages 5-17, starting today until further notice. Program is 8 a.m.-6 p.m., at 3155 E. Grant Rd., with breakfast and lunch provided. Email Kaitlyn.Shinaberry@bannerhealth.com to register your child.
YMCA extended their spring break camp (through the end of March) for ages 5-12. Registration is online only. Click here for registration. Email foryouth@tucsonymca.org for assistance.

Virtual exams for team members using 98point6: For you and your dependents enrolled in Banner’s health plan, our virtual provider app 98point6, now offers zero copays for services related to COVID-19. View the download card for more.
PTO and SOS updates: Read more on enhancements to the PTO and SOS programs here. Reminder on SOS for child care, documentation or receipts from child care services must be included in your SOS application.
Coping with COVID: Click here for more information on how you can cope and reduce stress during this time.
TALK2Me sessions: For staff needing a way to talk about challenges as a caregiver during this trying time, there are after-shift call-in group discussions available with trained team members with CANDOR experience facilitating. See TALK2Me’s site for more.

7:45 a.m. call: Dial in number: 480-378-7231, Conference ID: 493894220#
7:45 p.m. call: Dial in number: 480-378-7231, Conference ID: 609317100#

COVID-19 Employee Health Line: For team member health-related questions such as return-to-work policies or possible COVID-19 exposure, call this line staffed by RNs. Note: The Employee Health Line offers process guidance and answers general clinical questions; not specific clinical diagnosis. Call 602-255-7636 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (AZ time), seven days a week.

David M. Labiner, M.D.

Professor and Head, Neurology

Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science

The University of Arizona

1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Room 6205

Tucson, Arizona 85724

3/23/20

Banner Health COVID-19 Response

Social comfort masking: While Banner Health doesn’t endorse personal mask use in preventing disease transmission, they recognize that personnel may want to engage in ‘social comfort masking’. Personnel may now wear social comfort masks, but remain required to follow Banner’s PPE protocol. See attached PDF for further information.
COVID-19 specimen collection sites: Banner Health has opened COVID-19 specimen collection drive-through locations for the public. Those with concerns about COVID-19 symptoms or exposure can now call Banner Health at 1-844-549-1851 to speak with a clinical team member to determine if testing is appropriate. The line is staffed from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Friday. If an individual meets CDC criteria for testing, they will be scheduled for an appointment at one of the drive-through sites located in the Phoenix metropolitan area and in Tucson.
Emergency Department outside triaging ongoing at Tucson and South campuses: To maintain the integrity of the ED waiting room and hospital buildings, Banner Health continues to screen ED patients in outside designated triage areas, from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Outside of those hours patients will use the normal ED entrance. This is normal ED screening, not COVID-19 testing.
Social distancing: The physician and resident lounges will now comply by limiting seating to 10.
Boys and Girls Club of Tucson’s Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse is currently holding 50 spots at no cost for Banner Health employees’ children ages 5-17 until further notice. These spots are first come, first served. The program runs 8 a.m.-6 p.m., at 3155 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, Ariz., with breakfast and lunch provided. For registration, please email Kaitlyn.Shinaberry@bannerhealth.com.
YMCA extended their spring break camp (through the end of March) for ages 5-12. Registration is online only. Please email foryouth@tucsonymca.org for assistance.

Questions?

Contact the Banner Health Incident Command Center 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday at (520) 694-2699.

Guidelines and procedures for use of 'social comfort masking'

Socialmasking.pdf

3/22/20	Message from the Dean

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