TO: Ballad Health All
FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center
DATE: Aug. 20, 2021
TITLE: Weekly COVID-19 briefing – Aug. 20, 2020
ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. This is a review of the major activities that occurred this week related to the COVID-19 response.
COVID-19 inpatient cases: 219
COVID-19 patients in ICU: 65
COVID-19 patients on ventilators: 44
Pediatric inpatients with COVID-19: 2
Patients in Safer at Home, COVID-19 care at home, program: 104
Percent of fully vaccinated population in Ballad Health’s 21-county service area: 38.6%
Facts to consider
- The number of COVID-19 cases tested at Ballad Health increased 40% over the last week.
- There is a growth rate of 1,251% in regional cases since July 4.
- As of Friday, Aug. 20, Ballad Health is treating 323 patients for COVID-19 – with 219 as inpatients and 104 through our Safer at Home program.
- Thirty-five percent of the positive cases Ballad Health has diagnosed daily throughout the region in the past week are children under the age of 18.
- The percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are positive is 16.7%. As a reference point, our goal is less than 5%. As recently as last month, our positivity rate was as low as 3.4%.
- Ninety percent of Ballad Health’s hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. While vaccinated adults might become infected by the Delta variant, very few need hospitalizations.
- The percentage of people in the Appalachian Highlands who are fully vaccinated is only 38.6%. Statewide in Tennessee is 40.5%, and in Virginia it is 55.3%.
Protecting our children
The spread of COVID-19 amongst children continues to be very high, especially since children under 12 years old are not yet eligible for the vaccine.
- Ballad Health and Niswonger Children’s Hospital stand alongside the 35 psychologists, pediatricians, social workers and others, who have together published a letter regarding the mental health impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents, with reassurance that there is no known impact associated with wearing a face mask. Click here to read the letter. Click here to read the letter.
- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recently made a decision to allow parents to opt out of mask requirements in schools. Ballad Health strongly supports children wearing masks indoors and begs parents to consider how their actions and decisions regarding their own children might have an effect on others, especially those with other health conditions.
- If children are age 12 or older, we strongly encourage them to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Ballad Health and Niswonger Children’s Hospital unequivocally support mandatory mask policies in schools.
Extended use of N-95 respirator
Due to the significant increase in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, along with the expectation of a continued rising census partnered with an increased demand for N-95 respirators, Ballad Health will reimplement our extended use N-95 respirator process.
- Team members, including medical staff providers and eligible students, identified as needing an N-95 respirator, will be issued a new respirator at the beginning of each shift.
- The N-95 respirator should be discarded at the end of each shift.
- Click here to see the care instructions as a PDF.
Return to work
Additional guidance regarding return-to-work procedures following team member COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and exposures is available here.
COVID-19 vaccine third-dose shots for immunocompromised
- Third-dose shots for people with compromised immune systems are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Ballad Health currently offers a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to those who are eligible at the community vaccination center (CVC) in the Mall at Johnson City.
- First- and second-dose vaccinations are also available at the CVC for anyone ages 12 and older.
- The vaccine center is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2-7 p.m.
- No appointment is necessary for a vaccination. Call Ballad Health Nurse Connect at 833-822-5523 or visit balladhealth.org/COVID19 to schedule a preferred time if desired.
Booster shots expected next month for wider audience
- The White House announced on Wednesday, Aug. 18, that it recommends a third (booster) shot for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for adults who have been vaccinated, beginning next month and pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC.
- Ballad Health leaders are working on a plan to make booster shots available to eligible people and will make an announcement as soon as details are set.
- The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for people 12 years and older, while Moderna’s is cleared for those 18 years and above.
- At this time, the extra shot is not recommended for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but it is anticipated it will be needed for Johnson & Johnson, as well.
- The booster shots will likely be offered across the country to all qualified people (fully vaccinated by Pfizer or Moderna) beginning the week of Sept. 20 and should be given eight months after an individual’s second dose. When third doses are first available, those who were fully vaccinated earliest in the vaccination rollout, including many healthcare workers, nursing home residents and other seniors, will likely be eligible for a booster.
- This effort will include delivering booster shots directly to residents of long-term care facilities, given the distribution of vaccines to this population early in the vaccine rollout and the continued increased risk that COVID-19 poses to them.
Testing
If you’re experiencing any symptoms at all of COVID-19 – even if they’re minor – please stay home and schedule a test immediately. Even if you’re fully vaccinated.
- In an effort for Ballad Health Medical Associates Urgent Care to respond to an increased demand in testing, the urgent care location on Volunteer Parkway in Bristol has been temporarily repurposed to focus solely on COVID-19 testing. All testing is conducted outdoors via drive-thru testing. Appointments are required and can be scheduled on Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Call Nurse Connect at 833-822-5523 or visit balladhealth.org/COVID19.
- For all other urgent care needs, or COVID-19 testing, patients can visit Ballad Health Medical Associates Urgent Care locations in Elizabethton, Greeneville, Kingsport, Piney Flats, Rogersville and Johnson City in Tennessee; Abingdon, Lebanon or Norton in Virginia; and Banner Elk, N.C.
Additional workforce needed
Due the national and local nursing shortage, and the stresses of COVID-19, we’re hiring retired registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to assist with patient care support duties at our six largest hospitals – BRMC, FWCH, GCH, HVMC, JCMC and JMH.
- They will help with patient admission, discharge, and other areas.
- Temporary work and flexible shifts, including four-hour shifts, are available.
- We are also hiring retired respiratory therapists (RTs) to assist with patient care support.
- A $100 cash bonus will be given to team members who recruit a retired RT, RN or LPN into one of these temporary roles.
- Interested respiratory therapists or nurses should contact Ballad Health nurse recruiters at 423-302-3299.
Important message notification
If you have Ballad Teams, our new mobile app for team members, be on the lookout for important messages, in particular regarding our response to the recent COVID-19 surge.
You can see new content by checking the small bell icon at the top right of the app’s main page. If the message is urgent and of high importance, you’ll also receive a “push” on the app, in the form of a short text message alerting you about the topic and linking you to the article. Don’t forget to turn on notifications in your phone settings so you won’t miss any important messages.
Daily COVID-19 Scorecard
Ballad Health will again distribute its scorecard Monday through Friday. You may click here to view it on the Ballad Health website.
Watch this week’s livestreamed press briefing
Ballad Health is hosting weekly press briefings to share the latest information related to COVID-19. Tune in to the Ballad Health Facebook page every Wednesday at 11 a.m. to watch.
Looking for answers?
Have a question about vaccines, the Delta variant or a new policy? Contact the Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center at BalladHealthCorporateEOC@balladhealth.org.
