COVID Employee Policy, Cleaning Policy

& Testing Sites

COVID Cleaning Protocols

OSHA - COVID Poster

Employee COVID 19 Policy

COVID-19 symptoms

Fever (over 100.0 degrees) and/or chills
New loss of taste or smell
Cough
Sore throat
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Congestion or runny nose
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle or body aches
Diarrhea
Headache

What to Do If You Are Sick?

Stay home except to get medical care

Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas and do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.
Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.
Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis if possible.

Get tested

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested. While waiting for test results, stay away from others, including staying apart from those living in your household.
Get tested as soon as possible after your symptoms start.
Self-tests are one of several options for testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 and may be more convenient than laboratory-based tests and point-of-care tests.

Separate yourself from other people

As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a well-fitting mask.

Monitor your symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, or other symptoms.
Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

Wear a well-fitting mask

You should wear a mask in the clinic.
Wear a mask with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you.

Cover your coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Throw away used tissues in a lined trash can.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
Soap and water are the best options, especially if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

When to Stay Home

IF YOU were exposed to COVID-19 and are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations

No quarantine - You do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms.

Get tested - Even if you don’t develop symptoms, get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

Watch for symptoms - Watch for symptoms until 10 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

If you develop symptoms - Isolate immediately and get tested. Continue to stay home until you know the results. Wear a well-fitted mask around others.

Take precautions until day 10

Wear a mask - Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.

IF YOU tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms, regardless of vaccination status

Stay home for at least 5 days - Stay home for 5 days and isolate yourself from others in your home. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.

Ending isolation if you had symptoms - End isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving.

Ending isolation if you did NOT have symptoms - End isolation after at least 5 fulls days after your positive test.

If you were severely ill with COVID-19 or are immunocompromised - You should isolate for at least 10 days.

Take precautions until day 10

Wear a mask - Wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public. Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.

Centers for Disease Control References: Note that these changes frequently

Reference for symptoms:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Reference for healthcare workers returning to work:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return-to-work.html

COVID Testing Sites

Call 211 for help finding a testing site

GS Labs Testing - (844) 263-9994

17880 SW McEwan Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Hours:
- Monday - Friday: 7 am - 6 pm
- Saturday & Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm
COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test, Antibody Test, and PCR test

OHSU Immediate Care Clinic - (503) 494-1700

15700 SW Greystone Court, Beaverton OR 97006
Hours: Weekdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- PCR testing with results available within 1-3 days.
- OHSU will charge insurance if a patient has it. Otherwise, the test is free.
- Do not need to be a current OHSU patient.
- May turn away patients who have Providence, Kaiser, or Legacy insurance.

ZoomCare

Rite Aid

CVS

Oregon Health Authority Testing Information

PDEC recommends urgent safety measures

PDEC urges staff— including those who are vaccinated — to do at least two of the following as the delta variant fuels a wave of infections. Without urgent action, Oregon will be short 400-500 hospital beds by Labor Day, according to a new forecast.

Wear a mask indoors in all public spaces or with people outside your household. Wear a mask outdoors when you can't stay 6 feet from others.
Limit gatherings. If you do gather, do it outside.
Stay 6 feet from others whenever possible.

PDEC also recommend:

Get vaccinated. It's the single best thing you can do to prevent severe illness from COVID-19.
Limit interactions with others. Keep distance between your unvaccinated child and other people in public.
Limit activities that could lead to an injury needing hospital care.
If you're an unvaccinated adult, stay home and limit community interactions as much as possible.

PDEC COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Policy

PDEC has joined more than one thousand healthcare organizations across the country in announcing a policy requiring our employees and providers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The owners were compelled to act quickly to share the vaccine requirement because, with the spread of the Delta variant, the safety of our people and patients is at stake.

PDEC vaccination requirement goes into effect immediately. ALL employees, providers, contractors, and volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine by September 30th. Anyone requesting a religious or medical exception must submit a request by August 30th. For those who are not fully vaccinated, you will be required to obtain weekly COVID-19 test results that show a negative test result, otherwise, you will not be able to work. Negative results are due Wednesday, each week.

FAQs have been created and can be referenced below to help answer questions about this policy. We will continue to add to it as more information is made available. One particular area where we still have additional work to do is around the process to apply for a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine requirement. The form to apply can be found below.

We know there will be additional questions and we are committed to helping you get answers to them. Please send your questions to portal@pdec.org. We may not have the answers to every question right away, but we will use the questions we receive to add to the FAQs and we will continue to share information as soon as we have it.

We thank you for taking this important action to promote safety and for everything you are doing to help care for our patients.

PURPOSE

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, in compliance with Temporary Administrative Order PH 34-2021 (attached).

Policy Rule Summary

OAR 333-019-1010 helps to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 by requiring healthcare personnel and healthcare staff who work in healthcare settings to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested for COVID-19 on at least a weekly basis.

POLICY

All providers and employees must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or provide weekly COVID-19 test results.

PROCEDURE

All providers and employees are required to do one of the following:

Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination from a federal, state, local, or tribal government care provider, that includes name, date of birth, type of COVID-19 vaccination given, date or dates given, depending on whether it is a one-dose or two-dose vaccine, and the name/location of the health care provider or site where the vaccination was administered. Proof of being fully vaccinated must be submitted to Human Resources before September 30, 2021.

Acceptable documents are an official vaccination card, a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card, or a print-out from the Oregon Health Authority’s immunization registry.
Fully vaccinated is defined as being at least two weeks post a second (or single dose) COVID-19 vaccine.

-OR-

Undergo COVID-19 testing weekly, by molecular or antigen detection. Vaccine report must be provided to Human Resources by Wednesday of any week the provider or employee is scheduled to work at PDEC.

Testing must be arranged through your healthcare provider; Home tests are not accepted.
PDEC is not responsible for coordinating testing.
PDEC is not financially responsible for COVID-19 testing done to meet this requirement.

Failure to provide proof of vaccination or report of a negative weekly COVID-19 test will result in the provider or employee being ineligible to work. Any time lost due to failure to comply with this policy falls under the PTO policy and expectations stated in the Portland Diabetes and Endocrinology Center employee handbook.

A note from your healthcare provider is required for a temporary exception to this policy due to having received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma in the past 90 days.

PDEC maintains confidential medical personnel files that are separate from other employee personnel files. All documentation received will be kept in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

This policy is in effect until revoked.

OHA’s: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/

BOLI: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/workers/Pages/covid-vaccine.aspx

PDEC COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Request Form

OHA Medical Excemption Form

OHA Religious Excemption form

Office of the Secretary of State

PDEC Vaccination Requirement Policy FAQ

Why is PDEC making vaccination a requirement now?

We are proud of our high employee vaccination rate. The dangers of the Delta variant require that we work quickly to increase the number of vaccinated employees, providers, and others so that we can become the safest place to deliver and receive care. The pandemic is continuing to evolve, and we need must continually adapt our approaches and strategies.

Who must adhere to the policy?

All PDEC employees (in person or remote) must adhere to this new requirement, as well as any provider, vendor, or volunteer that enters our facilities.

When does the policy go into effect?

The policy is effective now, with proof of vaccinations required by September 30, 2021.

How do I apply for a medical or religious exemption?

Exemption forms will be available here by August 17, 2021. They must be submitted electronically to portal@pdec.org.

What happens on October 1, 2021, if I am not vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption?

We will continue to comply with state and federal law regarding terminations, as the landscape is continuously changing.

What vaccine applies to the policy?

Any FDA authorized vaccine will be accepted. Currently, these include J&J (one dose), Pfizer (two doses), and Modern (two doses).

How do I submit proof of vaccination?

Employees should e-mail, mail, or fax proof of vaccination to Employee Health as a scanned or photographed copy of their vaccination card. If you received one or both doses at the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Site at the Oregon Convention Center, your vaccination status appears in MyHealth.

Do I need to be fully vaccinated by the deadline?

Yes, the vaccination series must be completed by Sept. 30, 2021.

What happens if I received one of the two-dose regimens (Pfizer or Moderna) and did not receive the second shot?

Please work with your primary care physician to receive your second dose.

Where will regular testing be completed? Who gets the results? Who pays for the test?

Employees will manage the testing process as it does today. Employees will receive their results and provide to Human Resources. PDEC will comply with the rules set by the Oregon Health Authority on covering the costs of tests.

If the CDC recommends boosters, will those be required as well?

Yes.

Where can I go to receive a vaccine?

Please contact your primary care physician to schedule a vaccination.

Is the policy aligned with the recent mandate by Oregon Governor Kate Brown?

Yes. On Aug. 4, 2021, she directed the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to issue a rule that requires weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated personnel.

Does the policy violate Oregon law that prevents health systems from requiring vaccinations?

The policy is in full compliance with state law in Washington and Oregon, as we may choose to apply additional safety measures for those who are unvaccinated.

FAQs – Vaccine Exemption Process

If a declination form has been previously submitted, does that suffice for an exemption?

No, it is no longer sufficient. Because PDEC has implemented a vaccine requirement, in response to the Governor’s new rule, an exemption form is now required. If employees wish to seek an exemption from vaccination, employees will need to submit a PDEC exemption form and supporting documentation.

What kind of proof is needed for medical exemption?

A signed letter from a qualified medical provider, on that medical provider’s letterhead, that states the medical condition and exemption rationale or provides documentation of a valid contraindication per the CDC. Please ensure that the medical provider who provides the signed letter is qualified to opine on the condition at issue.

What kind of proof is needed for a religious exception?

A signed letter from the religious authority in your faith community, on that religious authority’s letterhead, explaining how the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine conflicts with bona fide religious tenets or practices of your faith. (Please ensure the information in the letter is specific. A general philosophical or moral objection to the vaccine will not be sufficient for PDEC to evaluate the request or grant an exemption).

After I submit my exemption request how and when will I hear back?

The owners and human resources will review requests upon receipt and will respond as quickly as possible with a letter sent to the email provided on the exemption form.

Who will review the exemption forms?

Owners and human resources will review exemption requests.

Who do I contact if I have questions about the exemption form?

Employees can contact Julie or Tresa weekdays from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

If my exemption is denied can I submit an appeal for secondary review?

Yes, employees may appeal a decision by submitting a letter or email to portal@pdec.org, (attention to: Julie Briggs).