hbbd```b`` ),rD"`,R So when LVHN sent an email to employees about a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, Miller jumped at the opportunity to help end the pandemic, signing up half an hour later. Lehigh students, faculty and staff should follow the guidance provided by the Health and Wellness Center (for students) and Lehighs occupational health nursefrom LVHN(for faculty and staff). Speak with a nurse to assess COVID and other symptoms, answer your questions, and discuss your testing options. How is Lehigh cleaning classroom spaces, offices, and common areas of buildings? As an employer, Lehigh has the ability to implement this requirement for the health and safety of its community, and vaccination and boosters remain critical in supporting these efforts. 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, contact the universitys Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network, Christine Wolfe,RN, at 610-861-8080 ext. Our journalism needs your support. Lehighs faculty and staff are central to the universitys function of supporting students and elevating its research and educational mission. Easterly said most employers at the moment arent allowing employees to defer vaccination because of natural immunity but the situation is developing and that could change. 23504orChristine.Wolfe@lvhn.organd notify her of your condition. 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. Faculty and staff noncompliance will be addressed at the college and stem level as a violation of workplace and university policy. If an instructor becomes symptomatic or receives a positive COVID test result, the instructor should shift the class to remote instruction until the instructor receives a confirmed negative test result or, in the case of a positive test, is cleared to return to work. Faculty with questions about medical exemptions or general information related to the process for submitting vaccination information should contact the Provosts Office at, and staff should contact Human Resources at, Widespread vaccination in the fall allowed us to operate as an in-person campus. But some medical research shows that natural immunity may offer some benefits vaccines dont. 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 888-402-LVHN or visit LVHN.org/virtualcare to learn about virtual care options. Note to supervisors and department chairs: Staff and faculty are not required to divulge that the reason for their absence is due to a COVID-19 isolation or quarantine. O'Donnell doesn't agree with the area's major hospitals - LVHN, St. Lukes and Good Shepherd- which are mandating all their employees get the COVID-19 vaccine. The second dose is more likely to produce side effects than the first. /@[ O If I received a medical or religious exemption from Lehighs COVID Vaccination requirement, do I need to submit any additional documentation? The percent of fresh air will be adjusted to as high as possible based on outdoor temperatures, humidity, and the capacity of the unit to heat/cool the desired percent of fresh air. How can I report a concern about a community member not following proper behavior to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 on campus? Dr. Alex Benjamin . Those who test positive and have not been on campus or in close proximity are still encouraged to contact her. Our journalism needs your support. The new location is inside the Coordinated Health-Hazle Township facility at 26 Station Circle, Hazle Township. At-home antigen tests are widely available at pharmacies, and, in many cases, are covered by insurance. Quarantine: separates and restricts the movements of those who were exposed to COVID-19 to see if they become sick. This story was updated Tuesday to indicate Lehigh Valley Health Network has decided to update its policy; previously the health network had been discussing doing so. If LVHN employees covered by this policy are vaccinated outside of LVHN clinics, LVPG practices or Employee Health Services, they must provide evidence of immunization to She 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. The university will not share confidential health information. Getting vaccinated has far fewer risks than catching COVID-19. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has four different operations levels based on the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. So will clinics at LVHN hospitals in Hazleton and Pottsville. As a result, LVHN's The Employee Health Nurse Care Manager will need to clear you for return to work and will facilitate appropriate contact tracing. LVHN will provide vaccinations to employees through employee health services and to all personnel through designated LVHN COVID-19 clinic locations. St. Lukes University Health Network, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network have jointly announced they will require all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a news release. Employee Health Services Hours and Locations . A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August found that subjects who had natural immunity but were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be reinfected with COVID-19 as those who had natural immunity and those who got their shots. 0 Contact Christine Wolfe, RN, the university's Employee Health Nurse Case Manager from Lehigh Valley Health Network at 610-861-8080 ext. Though the decision was sent to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals for review, that court is unlikely to make a decision until mid-December. What are the restrictions on events, meetings and indoor and outdoor gatherings? More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. 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. Remember that if you receive a positive test result from testing conducted outside of the HWC,you must report your result by uploading it to thePatient Portal. Can faculty or staff request information from students about their vaccination status? Can I have copies of the safety reminder signs to put up in my office? LVHN was the last to release its vaccination statistics, giving unionized employees until Nov. 30. Be part of the most ambitious fundraising and engagement effort in Lehigh's history. Example: staying home and out of the public. A Pennsylvania hospital chain announces it will not require employees who had COVID-19 to get vaccinated for 12 months after their positive tests. The one at its hospital in East Stroudsburg will close on February 3. %%EOF For insurance purposes, it may be important to obtain a test in your county of residence or via your primary healthcare provider. We understand that some students are hesitant to report a positive test for fear of falling behind in classes. The claim: Employees who are fired for refusing a vaccine are eligible for unemployment benefits The highly transmissible delta coronavirus variant has caused a nationwide spike in cases,. 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. If you arrive on campus and begin to feel symptoms consistent with COVID-19, immediately notify your supervisor or department chair and go home. Employee Health - LVHN-CC . Noncompliance with the booster requirement for students will result ina hold being placed on the student's account which will prevent them from registering for classes for the following semester. Signs are downloadable for individual printing on the Resources page of this website. 23504orChristine.Wolfe@lvhn.org. 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. What do I do if I suspect I have COVID-19? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Once the isolation period has been completed and an individual is cleared to return to work or school, evidence of a negative test is not required. Contact your school or place of employment about specific COVID-19 guidelines before returning. '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. The Supreme Court ruling limits the power of the federal government to mandate that large employers take certain measures, such as requiring vaccinations, but does not preclude or limit employers from instituting such measures. St. Lukes on Wednesday tightened its visitation policy, in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases largely driven by the unvaccinated population (that) is placing an enormous burden on our regions health care system, according to Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, vice president of medical and academic affairs and chief emeritus of infectious diseases. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. To access these services under Lehighs medical plan call the phone number listed on the back of your Capital Blue Cross Card. If you choose to submit your information via the Google Form, your information will be kept strictly confidential and will be submitted to Capital Blue Cross through their secure portal. In mid-November, following a slew of lawsuits a judge in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Bidens mandate for employees at large companies. For those who are tested at an alternate location, be aware that if you are not taking a rapid test, your results may take several days to be processed. CDC guidance reported that in most cases cleaning alone removes virus particles on surfaces. Christine serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. Its perfectly legal for employers who have vaccine mandates in place to allow deferrals for employees with natural immunity, Ed Easterly, with the law firm Hoffman, Hlavac & Easterly, said. Both. Keep up with the latest info on corona in Munich (in German) What happens if I dont comply with the faculty/staff COVID vaccination requirement? We have prepared guidance on what to do if you are feeling sick and suspect you have COVID-19. 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. LVHN also now accepts walk-ins at our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic-Northampton Crossings located at 3768 Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County. St. Lukes leadership will also reassess the deferral requests and may update or alter guidance later based on new information. Call 610-861-8080, select 5 to bypass menu and enter extension 21237. Scheduling can be completed through MyLVHN, with the MyLVHN app, or by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). 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 more information on these requirements and for additional health guidance, please visit our Vaccination Resources Center. ML _f0Ie6EIopY}fCul*( Remdesivir Intravenous Therapy Now Offered Exclusively at New Infusion Site, Heart Complication (Myocarditis) Rare After COVID-19 Vaccination, We Are Family: Vaccine Clinic Brings Vaccines to Hazleton, COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Third Shots, COVID-positive patients must mask if able when staff are present in the room, Mask strongly encouragedwhen not eating or drinking, Permitted to visit LVHN employees and non-COVID-19 patients, Pet visits must be authorized by a physician, Follow guidelines for area(s) to be visited. Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com. If you are out of work because you have been quarantined due to possible exposure to COVID19 or have tested positive for COVID19 yourself, follow the instructions regarding illness or exposure on the HR website. However, if they choose to share this with you, treat this as confidential information and follow up with Christine Wolfeor Human Resources to make sure the information and all services are being extended. Its not the same as the medical or religious ones where there are laws in place that deal with that.. Employees with exemptions continue to receive weekly COVID-19 testing, Downs said. Disinfection will be required in high risk/high contact areas like eatery entrances, the health center and testing areas. Faculty/staff- Follow the advice of your primary care physician and notify the university's LVHN Employee Health Nurse Case Manager, Christine Wolfe, RN, at Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org or 610-861-8080 ext. 23504 or Christine.Wolfe@lvhn.org and notify her of your condition. You can obtain a test at many local health centers and pharmacies as well. The remaining employees received either permanent medical or religious exemptions or temporary exemptions due to having natural immunity after contracting COVID-19. Good Shepherd is based in Allentown. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. St. Lukes, following a Sept. 25 deadline, reported that of its approximately 17,000 employees, 668 were granted medical or religious exemptions or temporary deferments and 155 quit. All rights reserved (About Us). That was the date Miller received his first dose of either a placebo (inactive substance) or the vaccine being produced by Pfizer and partner BioNTech to protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Another recent study from Israel, which also hasnt been published or peer-reviewed yet, showed natural immunity provided longer-lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization due to the delta variant than the Pfizer vaccine. You can obtain a test at many local health centers and pharmacies as well. Weekly testing is required for those who are exempted. 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. @i-UkX`l%IZb{n0C3Z"JH )~a]2Kvl]Z+ (IMos5baq8I ;6[g]u Students with an approved exemption will be required to comply with the university's COVID-19 surveillance testing program and other preventive measures including, but not limited to, masking, social distancing and isolation/quarantine protocols, as determined by the university. Some of the more common onsite services performed include: Onsite services are performed at the same cost of the service in-clinic plus an hourly fee and travel for the medical personnel performing the specific service(s). LVHN has provided Lehigh with an employee guide that includes complete information for accessing their services. Is the University still looking at air changes and ventilation? If you arrive on campus and begin to feel symptoms consistent with COVID-19, immediately notify your supervisor or department chair and go home. Lehigh Valley Health Network saw significant success from its vaccine mandate with the vast majority of employees choosing to get the vaccine, network officials report. What is the difference between quarantine and isolation? 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. who serves as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees for any health concerns related to COVID-19. The CDC recommends that all eligible people get a booster shot, even if theyve had COVID. 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. We are the region's largest employer and the health care provider of choice for more people in the region. If you dont feel well, stay home and notify your supervisor or department chair. 7. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. There are no laws governing this kind of exemption like there are for medical or religious exemptions, he said. Almost everyone who works at the Lehigh Valleys biggest hospital networks tens of thousands of health care employees has now been vaccinated against COVID-19. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The partnership includes an LVHN Employee Health Nurse Case Manager who will serve as the key point of contact for Lehigh employees with any health concerns related to COVID-19. Lehigh Valley Health Network has opened seven new patient testing centers and will soon open an eighth amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. P.C. Also remember that your primary care provider is always a phone call away or via a secure message through your MyLVHN account. This benefit is available to all Lehigh staff and faculty, regardless of whether they participate in the University's medical insurance plans. Fewer than 1% of LVHNs nearly 20,000 employees chose to leave rather than get vaccinated. Less than 1% chose to leave, Downs said. Yes. 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. Filter changes will continue to follow ASHRAE guidelines. If the percentage of students in isolation for COVID in a class (section) is greater than 30%, the instructor can move to remote instruction until students return from isolation. Lehigh Valley Health Network is closing five medical offices in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to a letter that, LVHN spokesman Brian Downs confirmed, was sent to some employees. Leif Greiss is a reporter covering hospitals and health care in the Lehigh Valley. What are the immediate side effects? 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. What should I do? 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 medical consultation for planning purposes. 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. Love Where You Work! endstream endobj 390 0 obj <>/Metadata 34 0 R/Outlines 95 0 R/Pages 387 0 R/StructTreeRoot 102 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 391 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 392 0 obj <>stream 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The first shipments of the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for emergency use arrived in the Lehigh Valley around noon Thursday. 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. The clinic is open 8 . We are continuing with the strategy we initiated last summer to most safely provide a fully functioning campus through widespread vaccination.