Effective October 9, KP Southern California Region retention rules will apply limits in Microsoft Outlook to your aging emails and calendar entries. Email in your inbox folder will be purged after 90 days, while email in folders outside the inbox, including the Sent and Deleted folders as well as any folders you create, will be retained for 4 years. For more details, and info about how to archive emails; extend the retention period; recover purged emails; and why KP is taking this action, click here.

Kaiser Permanente Southern California members have completed more than 550,000 e-visits since January, 2020, marking a significant growth in patient utilization of virtual tools and visits. E-visits provide treatment or clinical triage to members virtually, using symptom-based questionnaires. Kaiser Permanente members can access E-visits via kp.org or the KP mobile app. This expansion is one of many “silver linings” that resulted when Kaiser Permanente pivoted to meet the challenges posed by the coronavirus surge. Read more about that, and learn about the types of e-visits KPSC offers.

Kaiser Permanente launched a COVID-19 Home Prevention Support Program to help members who test positive for the virus. The national program, now rolling out in Southern California, provides information and resources on how to safely and effectively isolate and quarantine at home to prevent the spread of the virus. The program includes phone coaching support and, for those who quality, a free care kit with a generous supply of cleaning products, hand sanitizers, disposable masks, and other items, designed to help prevent viral spread to other household members. More details here.

On Monday, August 3rd, Blanca Alban was conducting her daily routine checks of the restrooms before leaving for the day. It was about 3:50 pm when she entered the men’s restroom at the Chester Medical Offices (Kern County), and noticed a young man lying on the floor in one of the stalls.  His face was pale and he was nonresponsive. Read what happened next, and learn how Blanca’s quick thinking and calm demeanor may have saved this young man’s life.

Kaiser Permanente Ergonomic Expert On Reducing Computer-Related Strain

According to Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center ergonomic project manager Valentina Sendin, “Children now spend more than four hours a day on the computer,” (and in our home it’s more than that). “They experience back, neck, shoulder, wrist, thumb, hand and eye strain.” The key to avoiding computer- and phone-related injuries is in “proper furniture, better posture and good working habits” says Sendin, who offers 6 tips for healthier play and work while staying safer at home…including a great workaround for ill-fitting furniture. Read more in L.A. Parent.

We know the closure of schools and daycare centers, continue to create a scarcity in childcare resources. This situation places immense pressure on essential workers – like Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians – to find alternative childcare resources because they must continue reporting to work. Our Employee Assistance Program team has gathered a list of possible care referral sources that may help our people.

8 KPSC hospitals named best in state for overall care
32 KP hospitals identified as “high performing”

Kaiser Permanente hospitals are among the best in the nation for delivering high-quality care, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-2021 “Best Hospitals” rankings. In Southern California, 8 Kaiser Permanente  hospitals ranked among the best in the state for overall care: Anaheim, Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irvine, Los Angeles, Ontario, San Diego, and San Diego Zion.

“We’re proud that the U.S. News & World Report places us within the top tier of hospitals nationwide,” said Nancy Gin, MD, executive vice president and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation and regional medical director of Quality & Clinical Analysis, SCPMG. “During this critical time in health care, our experienced and highly skilled front-line staff, nurses and physicians are committed to ensuring that our patients receive the quality care they deserve to get healthy and stay healthy.” Read the details and see which other KP hospitals across the organization  ranked in the top tiers.

This past week we marked Kaiser Permanente’s 75th anniversary – that’s 75 years of dedicated, compassionate service in adding more healthy years to the lives of our members and communities. Our beginning was founded on a vision that there were better ways to keep people healthy. Today, we’re continuing the advancement of our founding vision for better care outcomes and healthier communities – but we’re taking it to a whole new level with the entry of the first class of 50 medical students at the new Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. The school was founded on the belief that there was a need for change in the way medical education prepares future physicians to address the 21st century health needs of diverse patients, consumers, and communities. Read the complete message from Julie Miller-Phipps and Ed Ellison, MD  here.  

In 2020, our 75th year, we’re showcasing how our history of innovation prepares us for many more years of delivering high-quality, affordable health care.

Outside of the COVID-19 unit on the 6th floor at KP Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC), is a quiet room. In it, the scent of lavender fills the air, calming music plays, encouraging quotes and art line the walls, laminated packets of information on stress relief and mental well-being are laid out, and hot tea steeps in a corner. LAMC staff can come read, relax, close their eyes, get a neck massage, talk to a mental health professional, sit in silence…or cry.

“We wanted to create a space where people could go and have their feelings,” during the unbelievably challenges they face providing care to  coronavirus patients, said Misty Lahti, RN. And so they did. This is the Resilience Room. Learn about it here.

UPDATE: The COVID-19 temporary relief benefits have been extended through September 30, 2020.

Employees who need to be away from work because they have received a positive COVID-19 test result may be eligible to receive up to 80 hours of COVID-19 Positive leave hours. The COVID-19 Positive leave hours temporary benefits are now extended through September 30, 2020. If you don’t qualify, you may
use your time off benefits.

Most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and can recover at home. Here’s how to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe if you or someone you are living with is sick. Print or share these flyers with others in the household. In English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Farsi.

Maybe.

After recovering from COVID-19 infection, Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson famously donated their convalescent plasma.

People who have recovered from coronavirus produce a specific antibody that can attack the virus. When their plasma is transfused to a person who is ill due to the COVID-19 virus, it may improve the chances of recovery, prevent the viral infection from worsening, or even save the life of the person with the virus.If you or someone you know has recovered from COVID-19, here’s how you can be like Tom, and maybe save a life.

Many people prefer to get their information via video rather than written material. Kaiser Permanente Southern California has compiled all of its COVID-19 videos in one place, so you can quickly scan and watch. Most videos are less than one minute long; others are just a couple of minutes. This great resource is vailable to members and non-members, and is extremely helpful for those who’d rather watch than read.
Copy this link to share with others:
https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/southern-california/health-wellness/videos/covid-19/.
Click here to go directly to the videos page.

The latest statistics are downright alarming:

• At KPSC, our COVID-19 positive inpatient census is higher than the peak we reached in April, and it continues to climb.
• California recorded nearly twice the number of coronavirus cases in June as it did in May.
• Hospitalizations have more than tripled in San Bernardino County and  more than doubled in Orange, Riverside and Ventura Counties since Memorial Day.
• In the first 8 days of July, roughly 65% of new infections have been diagnosed among those 18 to 49 (even though only 45% of Californians fall into that age range).

This virus is vicious and stealthy. We may think we have turned a corner, or that we can relax our habits, but the statistics make one thing clear:  We cannot let down our guard.

What will it take? Read the message from Julie Miller-Phipps and Ed Ellison, MD.

Want to smile? Watch this amazingly uplifting TV segment about the goodness in people helping people.

ABC World News Tonight aired this story featuring security guard Robert Johnson, a man who takes the time to make certain that the nurses, doctors, and other medical staff at KP Downey Medical Center know they are appreciated. Every morning, he greets them and cheers them on as they end their night shift. Kelly Wilson, RN, was also interviewed, and explained the gratitude these essential workers have for Robert’s show of appreciation. What a great example of the heartfelt caring and camaraderie exhibited at Kaiser Permanente during these challenging times when the coronavirus pandemic is dominating the news. Be like Robert! Watch it here.

Keeping watch for PTSD and other mental health issues for clinicians on front lines of COVID-19
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The rising numbers of COVID-19 cases are staggering. However, when it comes to the mental and emotional toll inflicted by the novel coronavirus, some of the devastation cannot be quantified.

Over the last several months, the medical community has faced unprecedented challenges. As the pandemic plays out, the expectation is that a range of mental health issues could surface among health care workers. On the severe end of this spectrum are those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. An article in Permanente Medicine looks at this mental health condition, the statitstics, its symptoms, impact on specialties, sources of support and strength, and other related matters. Read more.

COVID-19 is still spreading within many communities. If you’re planning to host or attend a summer gathering, read these 4 tips to help reduce your risk of exposure.

Good news for members, patients, and guests who love the convenience of getting care at your neighborhood Target store. Kaiser Permanente’s existing 26 Target Clinic locations opened on June 29 along with a new location in Norwalk, CA. Steps to ensure the suppression of the coronavirus at each clinic location are in place. KP licensed nurse practitioners and licensed vocational nurses are on hand at the clinics to provide high-quality primary care services in a convenient retail setting. In-person visits will be limited to preventive and wellness care until full care capacity can be returned. Kaiser Permanente opened its first Target clinics in 2014 for members and non-member Target store guests.

In early March 2020, Hani Atkins was preparing for her upcoming 18th birthday, including a trip to Disneyland with her family, and anticipating her senior year of high school with all of the exciting moments that entails. Those plans, however, did not play out as expected. Not only did the theme park temporarily close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but on April 22, Hani was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) – for the second time…

Read about how a group of nurses at Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Fontana Medical Center turned a hospital stay into a glam day to make sure this special young lady did not miss an important milestone  in her young life.  True beauty runs deep in this story.

There is so much useful information packed into this 3 1/2 minute video — and it’s never more relevant than right now, during this highly-charged, double-pandemic moment in time.

We all manage stress and anxiety in our own way based on our own experiences. Without knowing it, we create expectations of how others should behave and react. Given the events of the last few months, KPSC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is seeing an increase in burn-out and stress anxiety. They have shared this video to emphasize the importance of effective communication and empathy during these times. Even if we have differing opinions, empathy helps us understand others and perhaps even lend support. Watch it here.

While sheltering at home and physical distancing have slowed the spread of COVID-19, the virus is still present and active in our communities. In fact, it is on the rise again and wearing a mask or face covering is now required by the State of California in public.

There are ways to decrease your chance of exposure when spending time in higher-risk public places like parks, beaches, parades, protests and other gatherings. Review and print these tips to help you stay as safe and healthy as possible while in public places. View in English, Spanish, or Chinese.

Even though kids are much less likely than adults to become seriously ill with COVID-19, they can still spread the virus to other more vulnerable people in their family and in their community. Just like the rest of us, it is recommended that kids over the age of two wear a mask when they go out.

Two Kaiser Permanente Southern California physicians share important information about kids and wearing masks in these YouTube videos.

• English – David Bronstein, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist
• Spanish – Shari Chevez, MD, pediatrician

A special message from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Team

June 19 – Juneteenth – is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1866 and have historically been observed with festivals celebrating African American traditions. Today, Juneteenth is often observed with an emphasis on African American education and achievement.

Celebrate wtih KPAAPA (details below). More information, upcoming Listening Sessions, and other ways to participate and learn here.

Celebrate Juneteenth with KPAAPA: Despite INJUSTICE, We Still THRIVE!

Join the Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association (KPAAPA) to learn about the significance of Juneteenth. Sponsored by a partnership between National Equity, Inclusion and Diversity and Enterprise Learning.

Friday June 19, 2020; 12 -1 pm

Click here to join at the time of the event
(Event will stream live on Teams; use you KP SSO login)

You kids may be asking questions. Your kids may be showing signs of distress. Your kids may be watching news coverage or getting messages via their phones, which you may not know about.  Your kids may be reacting to or even assimilating your moods.

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and kids are often well aware of it. Knowing how to discuss these complex issues with children isn’t easy.  Kaiser Permanente Pediatric Psychiatrist Dr. Natasha Cortes offer some guidance to parents, in an appearance on KCBS8 News in San Diego.  Watch the clip here. 

A message from Julie Miller Phipps, president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Health Plan and Hospitals, and Ed Ellison, MD, executive medical director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group:

From the recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor to the discrimination faced by Christian Cooper, our society is faced with stark reminders of the frequent injustices we must continue to fight. America must do better, we can all do better, and Kaiser Permanente is committed to addressing the root causes of this painful inequity. This is why we are supporting and personally planning to participate in tomorrow’s “Moment of Solidarity” to recognize the need for greater equity and inclusion:

What: A “Moment of Solidarity,” in which staff and physicians who choose to do may come together to kneel or stand silently for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Participation can be at your desk in your department, with a larger group outside of the facility, or from your remote work location.

When: Friday, June 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 12:49 p.m.  FULL DETAILS HERE.

No one thinks technology has a tender side (or even thinks about this at all). But a cross-departmental team of industrious Kaiser Permanente Southern California IT professionals discovered it – unknowingly. When the “No Visitors” policy was instituted early in the COVID-19 crisis, patients were disconnected from their dearest, most vital support systems, just when they were most needed.

The simple solution, as it turned out, wasn’t simple at all. Read how the extraordinary efforts of the KPSC team implemented a solution in record time — allowing patients to connect with loved ones and employees to connect their work to its emotionally impactful outcome. Story here.

Equality for All
An Important Message From Greg A. Adams, Chairman and CEO, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals. Click here.

Chaos or Community? Bringing the American Dream to All Americans.
A message from Julie Miller-Phipps, President, Kaiser Permanente Southern California  Health Plan and Hospitals; and Ed Ellison, MD, Executive Medical Director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Click here.

In the earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic, a grandmother, mother, and two young children were all hospitalized at Downey Medical Center. All except one child tested COVID positive. Their situation demonstrated the chaos that the virus wrought; spotlighted the complexities of managing this novel situation; and exemplified the heroics of three KPSC social workers who had to resolve this high-pressure, multi-faceted case. How did they do it? Find out here.

As COVID-19 continues to dominate our lives, it’s natural to feel anxious and stressed. As you care for others, whether members, patients, or your own family, we want to be sure you prioritize taking care of yourself, during Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and always.

• Download this updated flyer, “Mental Health and Well-being Resources for Kaiser Permanente Employees.” Please note: some of the resource links will require you to login to the KPSC network.
• Listen to the Town Hall rebroadcast from May 21, 2020, “Coping with the Mental Health Crisis Created by the Coronavirus Pandemic” (login required).
• Review these simple and effective self-care practices that can help support your physical and mental health. The Calm app assists with mindfulness and meditation; MyStrength app provides in-the-moment coping tools, inspirational resources, and community support, with pathways for anxiety, sleep, stress and depression. Both are free to KPSC members.
• Kaiser Permanente’s Employee Assistance Program, a free, confidential service available to the people of KP, is now offering free Weekly Mindfulness, Meditation and Yoga Sessions (login required).
• Social media and other poorly vetted sources can be transmitters of misinformation. Make a point to seek out reputable sources of facts, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
• Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Stay connected with family and friends using FaceTime, Zoom, email, phone, or text messages.

On Saturday, May 30, celebrate “Mental Health for All: A National Day of Hope” by taking a virtual walk to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – and do it your way. “NAMIWalks Your Way” means participants get to make NAMIWalks their own. You can walk a 5K through your neighborhood or on your treadmill, plan a craft day at home or virtually, or do something else meaningful and fun to celebrate the virtual walk day.

NAMIWalks bring together people of all ages and fitness levels to combat stigma, show solidarity, and promote awareness of mental illness. Take photos and videos and share your activity on a favorite social media using these hashtags: #NotAlone; #MentalHealthForAll; #NAMIWalks+tag for your area.

Virtual NAMIWalks are scheduled in Coachella/Palm Desert, and Kern, Orange, Ventura, and San Diego counties, but you can participate from anywhere! Get more info or register for your local walk at https://www.namiwalks.org/.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance, which issues report cards to health care organizations based on measurement, transparency and accountability, has awarded Kaiser Permanente Southern California with its highest status of “Excellent Accreditation.” The 3-year accreditation follows a rigorous and extensive survey of our organization’s Commercial and Medicare operations in the Southern California Region. NCQA Report Cards examine how well doctors, other clinicians, practices, health insurance plans and other national health care organizations perform. More here about this prestigious recognition.

Kaiser Permanente expands its mental health and wellness resources with an app focused on emotional wellness, available at no cost to members.

As part of Kaiser Permanente’s long-standing commitment to the mental health and wellness of our members and communities, KPSC members now have access to Calm a leading app for mindfulness meditation and sleep, at no additional cost. In these times of increased stress and anxiety, this is an effective, secure new way to support emotional wellness — anytime and anywhere. While not intended to replace treatment or clinical support, Calm includes guided meditations, sleep stories for deeper and better sleep, and video lessons on mindful movement and gentle stretching. Members with an active kp.org account should go to kp.org/selfcareapps to register (it is important that you register here before attempting to sign in through Calm.com or the Calm app). More info here.

As we recognize National Hospital Week, we honor our people whose expertise, dedication, and compassion elevate our 15 Southern California medical centers into beacons of member care and confidence. We know it’s our people, our culture, and our innovation – consistent hallmarks of KPSC’s excellence – that allow us to bring out our best in the delivery of high-quality, compassionate health care – never more so than during the COVID-19 pandemic. And for that, we are deeply grateful.  Julie Miller-Phipps and Ed Ellison, MD commend our organization for Activating, Innovating, and Caring in an inspiring message of thanks to those who make it so.

We will all have remarkable coronavirus stories to tell for years to come, from the heartbreaking to the heartwarming. Emberly Anne McCabe, a newborn girl born on April 20 at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, will likely be telling the story of her own birth for the rest of her life. Her parents, Roxanne and Milo, are already sharing theirs in the national press, from “Inside Edition” to People magazine.  That’s because Milo, suffering from a critical case of COVID-19, watched Emberly Anne’s birth take place one floor away in the same hospital via a live Zoom video conference. “I never thought with our first child that this is the story that we’d be telling her about how she was born!” said Roxanne McCabe. Almost equally miraculous…thanks to the excellent care he got at KP Baldwin Park, including treatment with Remdesivir, Milo was able to leave the hospital just a few days later, and join his new family at home. Watch the amazing video here.

The sounds of blaring sirens and spinning helicopter rotors, and the sights of flashing lights and multiple emergency vehicles would surely garner attention. And that’s the point. “Hero-to-Hero” appreciation events, in which first responders and front-line health care providers show their mutual support, have rolled to every Kaiser Permanente Southern California medical center and flown over many.

These first responder caravans roll through city streets as neighbors wave in gratitude, and on to KPSC hospitals,  where hey are greeted by crowds of KPSC employees and physicians, awed by the inspiring expressions of gratitude and recognition – and sending it right back. The resulting ripple effect of support raises all our spirits, and further roots us in our united dedication to care for the people of our communities. Read the rest of the story here.

Johaira Michelle didn’t ask to be a “hero”, but she’s been one to her patients and fellow nurses.

Caring for new families during this pandemic has been a meaningful experience for Johaira Michelle Dilauro, RN, BSN CLE, who works in labor and delivery, post-partum, and the NICU at West Los Angeles Medical Center. She has used her warmth and empathy to create a compassionate care experience for her patients, including a COVID-19 positive mother. She has worked tirelessly to care for new families, and in the process, championed efforts to secure more masks and face shields for her hospital, to ensure her team and others helping patients with COVID-19 received the proper protection they need to continue fighting this global pandemic. We are proud to call Johaira Michelle Dilauro a “hero” for all she does to support her team while providing extraordinary care for mothers, newborns and new families at a most unprecedented time.  Even LAFC star Adama “Dio” Diomande agrees, as his photo shows. See his special thank you tweet to Johaira  here.

For almost 20 years, nursing has been named one of the most trusted professions in an annual Gallup poll and these examples explain why. Our nurses understand their job choice is more than a career – it’s a calling, and this global pandemic has made that crystal clear. Because there are so many nurses to recognize, we urge everyone to view the collection of stories that will be posted on Inside KP Southern California throughout the month of May.

During this historic year, we invite the people of Kaiser Permanente to join us in appreciating and thanking our nurses all year long. In the coming days you’ll learn more about your facility’s or area’s activities to recognize these heroes. Our nurses are part of the brain trust and the heart powering the care we deliver every day.

We thank you – our treasured nurses – our leaders, clinicians, researchers, innovators, scientists, and care givers, who are also courageous heroes with the ability to perform under pressure and provide the ultimate calling: true, selfless, compassionate care.

Please join us in thanking our nurses this and every month. Julie and Ed

Newly updated national mask guidelines were released on 5/1/20, based on the expert consensus of the Kaiser Permanente Inter-Regional Infectious Disease leaders. The guidelines continue to be based on droplet precautions. The coronavirus is generally transmitted when someone touches surfaces onto which infected people have dispersed their droplets through their touch, coughs, or sneezes. The guidelines contain 5 mask categories: N95 Masks or PAPR/CAPR; Surgical Masks; Isolation/Procedure Masks; KP-issued “Cover Your Cough Masks; and Personal Masks from home (for patients and visitors).  For more details, see the attached chart.

On most days, Beong Kim mans a busy workload, juggling non-stop calls and meetings, reviewing complex documents, and advising on intricate legal matters in his capacity as vice president, assistant general counsel at Kaiser Permanente. It’s not what anyone would describe as soothing, and there’s certainly no time for escapism. But every so often, that’s just what he and his wife Bonnie Wongtrakool bring to their Pasadena neighborhood, through their increasingly-popular “porch concerts.” Read how they are bringing a bit of harmony to these dissonant times.

25 Kaiser Permanente hospitals – including 11 in Southern California – are among the nation’s safest at which to receive care, according to the Leapfrog Group’s latest Hospital Safety Grades report.

While nearly two-thirds of Kaiser Permanente’s hospitals are rated A, less than one-third of the nation’s 2,600 hospitals that participated in the study received an A rating. The report utilizes hospital performance data collected by organizations like the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Scores are based on more than 2 dozen measures related to patient care, medication errors, and infection prevention and released to help people make informed health care decisions. More at Leapfrog.

Access to reliable antibody tests regarding immune status and making these tests available to a large number of Americans is a high priority for Kaiser Permanente and the nation. Many companies are working to develop and provide antibody tests and are moving through the Federal Drug Administrative (FDA) review process.  Several have already been approved by the FDA through its expedited emergency review process.

Production of approved tests is increasing rapidly and availability should improve over the coming weeks.  However, there are still questions about the accuracy and validity of the antibody tests, how they should be used and how results should be interpreted. Because these tests are in the early stages of review, there is a reasonable concern regarding false positive test results and misinterpretation of information by the general public. Inaccurate diagnoses during a pandemic can impair prevention efforts and delay appropriate treatment for sick patients.

We will continue to follow the guidance of Federal and State medical and public health experts, in addition to our own infectious disease medical experts. We are making every effort to develop the capacity to provide the tests to members, where appropriate, as soon as fully vetted and approved tests are available. (Updated 4/27/20)

Based on limited information, the CDC says the coronavirus can spread from people to animals in some situations, but it’s unlikely. They are aware of a small number of pets, including cats and dogs, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. As for the other direction (animals spreading COVID-19 to people), the risk is considered to be low. What to do?  Treat pets as you would other human family members – no interaction with people or animals outside the household. If a household member becomes sick, isolate them from everyone else, including pets. Source: CDC.

One recent story has broken through the persistent coronavirus news: the NFL draft. During the much-lauded, three-day event, 32 teams chose 255 players, with live-streaming and primetime network coverage. Some welcomed the diversion; others took no notice. After all, it ostensibly bears little relationship to our lives, at home or at KP.

Or does it? Some parallels are as clear as the uprights from 10 yards out. Consider these NFL:KP comparisons…

It’s your constitutional right to be counted! Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, libraries, school lunches, services for and older adults, and other resources. The 2020 Census data will help inform how those dollars are distributed in your community for the next 10 years, and how many congressional representatives California gets. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to keep your answers strictly confidential. It’s not too late to respond to the 2020 Census while being safe at home. Shape your future. Visit my2020census.gov.

Something we can all use right now: simple ideas to help build resilience an d strengthen your ability to bounce back during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience has to do with taking stressful or unpleasant experiences and adapting, overcoming, and most importantly — moving on. Resilience is important for maintaining mental as well as physical health, which can be affected by negative emotions like anxiety and stress. Take a break, and check out these tips.

Sometimes, a story needs little introduction. This is one such time. Cecilia Fleming-Tumer, MPH, RN, shares her beautifully expressed self-reflections on her experience with a patient who was taken by COVID-19 – and on her role as a nurse leader and fellow human being. Her moving words inspire us to remain strong, committed, and compassionate, whether we face similar circumstances or not. Read them here, or in the Los Angeles Daily News where they were published as part of Nurses Week.

If you would like to share your reflections on how the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted your work and/or personal life, (50-350 words, please) send it to: KPSC-FYI@kp.org.

Who doesn’t need a good, clean dad joke? Not a one of us. It’s what we all need right now. Get a new one daily, along with poems and inspirational messages, by dialing 1-877-JOY-4ALL (1-877-569-4255). A group of Canadian teens launched the low tech, now viral idea with the intention of bringing a smile to elderly or isolated people. Now viral, JOY4ALL still provides exactly what its name promises.

For the past 6 years, Kaiser Permanente Southern California has participated in Denim Day to support Peace Over Violence’s campaign and to observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Wear jeans on April 29 to help raise awareness about sexual assault prevention, and shine a light on KPSC’s Family Violence Prevention Program, which addresses child, elder, and intimate partner abuse.

Hear a message of thanks and visit a gallery of gratitude for the amazing work happening at KP during the COVID-19 crisis. The message, delivered by Allison Janney, the voice of the Thrive campaign, underscores the extraordinary things you are doing on behalf of our members and patients, and each other. View video on InsideKP Southern California (login required).

The Centers for Disease Control recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. CDC also advises using cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus by people who may unknowingly have the virus. Most Southern California counties require cloth face masks when in public.

Kaiser Permanente recognizes many of the people of KP are facing significant, unprecedented challenges at work while managing sudden and traumatic changes in daily and family lives. Therefore, we are implementing temporary benefits and pay programs to assist them in caring for themselves and their families.

These temporary COVID-19-related benefits were developed in consultation with labor leaders and will be available to physicians and employees actively working in patient care environments. Part-time employees and per diem employees who work at least 20 hours per week are also eligible. Benefits include:

• Additional paid time off if you need to be away from work because you have tested positive for COVID-19
• Childcare grants for your school-age children or dependent disabled adult children while you are at work.
• Short-term housing near our medical centers and specialty hubs for certain situations.

For details, eligibility, and other information visit My HR or Here4You. Physicians will access these benefits through Permanente Human Resources Shared Services.

“We’re all in this together” is so much more than a coronavirus rallying cry, as many people are proving through caring acts and deeds. Nowhere is this more evident than in the donations that members of our community have made to Kaiser Permanente Southern California patients, physicians, and employees.

“These humbling, inspiring demonstrations of care truly motivate our people during this extraordinarily demanding time. Grateful just isn’t a strong enough word,” said John Yamamoto, VP, community health, government relations, and community engagement, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Health Plan and Hospitals. Examples include:

• Masks from our SEIU UHW labor partners, who are also working with their business partners to switch their manufacturing to produce critical PPE.
• 3D printed face shields donated by a robotics team in San Diego and a computer science teacher in Garden Grove.
• Hundreds of iPads donated to hospitals including Kaiser Permanente Ontario Medical Center and other hospitals by EdoATM Gazelle, enabling socially-distanced patients and loved ones to communicate.
• Heartwarming children’s hand-drawn artworks — life-affirming cards of gratitude and hero recognition delivered to parent and others at KP facilities.
• Pizzas! Donuts! Cappuccinos! And delicious healthy meals and snacks donated to the hard-working people at KP medical centers throughout Southern California.

See more examples and details (plus a comment from Mister Rogers!) here.

Sure, you miss the camaraderie. But what about the keyboard taps, footsteps, phones, and your whistling, chip-crunching neighbor? Believe it or not, those familiar sounds can be comforting (and for some, even increase productivity. If broken mufflers, barking dogs, and leaf blowers aren’t doing it, there’s an app for that. Check out I Miss the Office, and relax. Or don’t.
Think this is interesting? Thank KP’s Hatch Group  for the tip. This in-house team of researchers, strategists, creators, builders and dreamers are helping Kaiser Permanente prepare for our future.

New resources for people who are living with or caring for someone with COVID-19. Available in English and Spanish in the Resources section of FYI.

Frontline workers say years of working collaboratively with managers as part of the Labor Management Partnership has better prepared them to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The Partnership has saved money, improved care, and led to better service – and now will literally be saving lives because we are working together. Read the story.

News Flash: watch a 46 year-old woman blow out her birthday candles! If you think that’s not so special, consider that she had just been released from KP Irvine Medical Center…after being sedated and on a ventilator for 11 days during treatment for COVID-19. More about her remarkable recovery and triumphant departure from the hospital here.

Here4You is a new, free resource to help connect all Kaiser Permanente employees with support and other vital information during the COVID-19 crisis. Here4You can help you access services for childcare, financial assistance, mental health and wellness, hotel accommodations, and our Employee Assistance Program. Operators can also answer questions about the new enhanced benefits.

Here4You representatives are available daily from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time at 877-457-4772, option 7. You can also email Here4You@kp.org.

• No sewing needed to make these homemade masks from fabric, t-shirts or bandanas. Instructions in English or Spanish.
• Have a sewing machine? Watch this Kaiser Permanente easy video tutorial.

In a short video, Felicia Wong, MD, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center, shares helpful advice for supporting older adults. These simple ideas can help ease concerns and raise the spirits of older loved ones, neighbors, and acquaintances. Watch the video.

Recent studies have shown that the novel coronavirus can spread between people in close proximity—for example, through speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently recommended wearing cloth face coverings in public settings, especially when social distancing is difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) and in areas of significant community-based transmission. Get info about making fabric coverings using t-shirts, bandanas, and other materials here, or watch this video.

• Hotel Discounts: Starting April 10, frontline health care workers who are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19 can find hotel rooms through the CalTravelStore. Rooms are provided at a discounted rate. Click here for information.
• Marriott Discounts: Participating Marriott hotels are offering discounts for caregivers and support staff through June 30. Book directly through Marriott using your personal credit card. Enter the promo code “QWO” under the “Special Rates” section (I.D. required at check-in). Additional details are available on KP’s National Travel Services site. Note: employees will not be reimbursed for hotel costs.
• More Discounts: The AHA has compiled a long list of Discounts for First Responders and Health Care Workers. Besides hotels, look for deals on cappuccinos, scrubs, and even gas.

The coronavirus pandemic is the largest health challenge ever faced by Kaiser Permanente. But we are confident we can overcome it because of our people; their commitment to improving the health of our members and the communities we serve; and the “flattening the curve” measures we have all been taking. In the coming days and weeks, we expect a medical surge to begin: a significantly increased volume of patients that challenges or exceeds a hospital system’s normal capacity. Thousands of our dedicated people have been working diligently to plan for the surge, and we are now implementing those plans. Ed Ellison, MD, executive medical director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and Julie Miller-Phipps, president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Health Plan and Hospitals discuss these plans in this brief video update.

To alleviate costs and stress to impacted members, Kaiser Permanente will eliminate member out-of-pocket costs for inpatient and outpatient COVID-19 treatment services. “We want our members who need treatment for COVID-19 to be able to focus all their energy on getting well, not on worrying about how to pay for treatment,” said Greg Adams, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. Read more.

Some hopeful indicators point to “yes,” as this report suggests. California’s aggressive stay-at-home orders and other factors may be flattening the curve of confirmed COVID-19 cases. This means we need to keep it up, and be vigilant in our preventive measures, like staying home, frequent hand washing, and – if we must go out – wearing a cloth face covering and practicing social distancing.

Every cloud…well, you know. Here are some upsides to the coronavirus pandemic:

• Families and roommates are finding new joy in old forms of fun. Jigsaw puzzles, Pictionary, board games and Charades are making a comeback.
• Have you noticed? Kindness and gratitude are everywhere. Let’s make this part of our new normal.
• Online dating is way up, thanks to so many people staying at home. But online scams are up too. Let the bachelor(ette) beware. Swipe here to learn more.
• Baking homemade bread is trendy. So much so that many grocery stores are sold out of yeast and flour. Try these workarounds if you want to give bread baking a go. Just watch those carbs…
• Chicken wings are cheaper! Fewer pro sports events means fewer wings consumed. Lower demand = a surplus of wings = lower cost. Get ‘em while they’re hot.
• More time for Panda Cams, Hippo Cams, All the Cams. Check out these animal live streams from zoos around the world. After work 😊.

General Motors, Ford, and Tesla are among a group of auto manufacturers who are reconfiguring themselves to build life-saving ventilators in response to the coronavirus pandemic. See how one company, Tesla, is building its ventilators with parts for its vehicles.

The Getty Museum challenged quarantined people to recreate famous works of art using things found around the house. Browse the sometimes hilarious results on their Instagram, or on the site that inspired it. Are you up to the challenge?

CNET reports that slowdowns in manufacturing and traffic are reducing pollution in some cities. China’s lockdown led to a 25 percent decrease in CO2 emissions compared with the same period in 2019. Satellite imagery shows startling reductions in air pollution over countries where traffic has been limited. Something to think about…

What they do, why COVID-19 patients need them, and why it’s difficult to solve the shortage. Learn more about this complex but vital device here.

Here’s a straightforward explanation of the “Flattening the Curve” concept (made before we enacted the social distancing and stay-at-home actions so crucial to successfully flattening the curve). Watch the video.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced the formation of “L.A. Protects,” a new partnership to organize Los Angeles’ fashion and garment industry to make protective gear and other medical supplies for frontline workers. The initial target for the initiative is the manufacturing of 5 million non-medical masks for people who need protection – grocery store workers, non-medical staff in hospitals, and others providing essential services during the COVID-19 crisis.

Kaiser Permanente is a partner in L.A. Protects, having provided the specifications for a non-medical mask that is being open-sourced to the public.

“The number-one mission right now is saving lives,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Our manufacturing sector is unmatched anywhere, and the ingenuity of working people will help us get through this emergency. L.A. Protects will save people – and save jobs.”

L.A. Protects could help businesses that might otherwise have to close and furlough staff, by connecting them with opportunities to provide an essential service. L.A. Protects will match approved manufacturing companies with essential industries in need of masks – including the health care industry, grocers, take-out restaurants, delivery services, as well as food and beverage manufacturers.

• Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick by staying home as much as possible and maintaining 6’ distance between yourself and other people.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover and time you must leave home.
• Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, remote controls, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

You’ll find a wealth of resources and material at kp.org/mentalhealth, and terrific self-care articles, recordings, and exercises at kp.org/selfcare. These are a few highlights:

• Find Your Words: Mental health education and tools to help with depression and build resilience.
• myStrength: KPSC members have free access to this personalized app with interactive activities, in-the-moment coping tools, inspirational resources, and community support. There are pathways for anxiety, sleep, stress and depression among others.
• Stress Management articles, podcasts, and guided exercises.
• Parenting tips and exercises to help parents stay calm, centered, and collected amidst the (joyful!) chaos of COVID-19 (or any time).
• Healthcare providers will find short, practical COVID-19-related self-care advice from the American Psychological Association.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, voluntary, and confidential services for all Kaiser Permanente physicians and employees. EAP Consultants are licensed, trained clinicians, experienced in working with a wide variety of work-related and personal issues.

• COVID-19 Drop-in Support Group Calls: Now offered several times each week, for employees and managers. Covering coping strategies to deal with uncertainty, stress, and burnout; strengthening social support networks during social distancing; using mindfulness, kindness, and gratitude. Participants can remain anonymous. Click here for support group information for employees, managers, and physicians. (login required).
• Get more information on the main EAP site, or on the EAP FAQ page (login required).

• World Health Organization (WHO) Global COVID-19 Cases Dashboard
• World Health Organization (WHO) Dashboard U.S.A. Cases Dashboard
• California Department of Public Health: COVID-19 in California

Social media and other poorly vetted sources can transmit misinformation. To get your coronavirus facts straight, consult the WHO’s COVID-19 Myth Busters page and the Rumor Control web page from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Don’t believe rumors. Don’t pass on questionable information. Always go to trusted sources of information for COVID-19 facts. Bookmark this site (www.kpscalfyi.org) and visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization (WHO); or Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

The California Department of Education has lots of resources for parents or caregivers who are supporting students with distance learning. Browse for general how-to guidance; information by school subject; resources for students with disabilities; multilingual resources; pre-K learning and activities; and much more.

Understood.org offers a broad range of life and learning practical strategies for parents and caregivers, during COVID-19 and any time. Sample stories include getting kids in the hand-washing habit; coping with two cooped-up teens; and picture schedules for adjusting to new routines.

Several companies are offering discounted services during the COVID-19 for those who do not have internet access at home (especially those with school-aged children at home). Contact the companies listed here to discuss the plans available to you.

• Kaiser Permanente pediatrician David Bronstein, MD, shares advice for helping children cope during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Johns Hopkins Medicine’s excellent piece on talking to your child about the pandemic and why they have to stay home.

All DMV field offices are temporarily closed to the public, and appointments have been canceled. You can access many DMV services online, including driver’s license renewals and replacements vehicle registrations, and more. For transfers, visit virtual.dmv.ca.gov. Extensions are available for some (not all) expired licenses. Check the site.

Since the start of our planning to respond to the coronavirus outbreak our Buy-to-Pay team has undertaken a gigantic task of sourcing very scare materials to meet the demands of a totally unheard-of disease that we have no immunity against. In addition to our normal supply chain sources, they have undertaken steps to find and establish new relationships with clinically-approved new sources of supplies; and chartered aircraft to go to Europe and Asia to restock our materials. We also have engaged in some ingenious tactics to PPE supplies from unconventional sources. This includes donations from various private sources, and even P-card shopping at hardware stores to find goggles and face masks. We were very pleased to learn that Southern California Region will receive 770 new ventilators within the next few weeks as part of a massive enterprise-wide purchase of this equipment.

Recently, UHW donated 700 masks to KP and we know our SEIU UHW partner is actively working with other businesses they are part of to encourage and help them immediately switch from whatever they normally manufacture to producing the critical PPE we all need. We applaud and are so grateful for what this means for our nation and health care teams on the frontlines here at KP and across the nation.

Just like for any highly infectious exposure that occurs in the workplace, any and all individuals on the care team that might have been exposed will be notified. Depending on the level of exposure – the appropriate actions will be taken – which could range from self-monitoring for symptoms to being sent home for a period of time and put on paid administrative.

We are taking precautions to protect our people and patients. For example, we’ve implemented a Secured Entry/Greeter programs which limits access to our medical facilities and direct people who may have COVID-19 symptoms to an isolated area for follow-up. Temperature taking of visitors, staff, and physicians entering our facilities helps to identify those with coronavirus symptoms.

COVID-19 testing is only available by a doctor’s order. If a health care worker or first responder is showing COVID-19 symptoms, they will be tested following consultation and approval by their physician.

If you are concerned that you or a family member are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, please call the appointment and advice line for further instructions before coming in, as you need an appointment to get tested. Members who have flu-like symptoms and are 18 or older can also complete an e-visit to get online care, advice, coronavirus screening, and treatment for symptoms if necessary.

Employees who experience symptoms at home should first call the advice number on the back of their Kaiser Permanente membership card for instructions, and then notify their manager in accordance with existing sick policies and procedures. If an employee becomes ill with these symptoms while at work, the employee should separate themselves from other coworkers or patients, and report it to their manager immediately.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus that can spread between people in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). It is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Coronavirus may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

This week, Kaiser Permanente began transferring non-COVID-19 patients to the USNS Mercy, the fully staffed and equipped hospital ship now docked in the Port of Los Angeles. Patients are being relocated to the Mercy only in if they voluntarily agree to do so and meet the hospital ship’s clinical criteria, and only after consultation with their physician.

As the number of COVID-19-positive patients grows, this collaboration allows us to use our intensive care units and ventilators for those patients, while ensuring all other non-COVID patients continue to receive high-quality, compassionate care. This is just one of many options we are implementing to prepare for the expected surge of COVID-19 patients, and to further strengthen our ability to deliver outstanding medical care. For details, check your Kaiser Permanente email inbox for the 4/5/20 message and video from Ed Ellison, MD and Julie Miller-Phipps.

All Kaiser Permanente Southern California physicians and employees who work in areas where patient care is provided are being supplied with the appropriate PPE. Inventory will be available soon to provide Level 1 “Cover Your Cough” masks to employees who work in an administrative area or regional operations locations where no patient care is provided. Until then, they should follow the CDC’s recommendations and wear a cloth face covering or non-KP issued mask. Get info about making fabric coverings using t-shirts, bandanas, and other materials here, or watch this video.

All Kaiser Permanente members including employees and physicians, now have anytime, anywhere access to the digital mental health app myStrength. According to Don Mordecai, MD, psychiatrist and national leader for mental health and wellness at Kaiser Permanente, “Everyone can benefit from caring for their emotional well-being, particularly in times of increased stress and anxiety.” After downloading myStrength and using their kp.org sign-in, users can focus on sleep, mood, mindfulness, resilience, or learn skills to improve emotional health – among many other uses. myStrength is just the newest of many innovative, free self-care tips and tools available in kp.org/wellnessresources.

An email from Dick Daniels, executive vice president and chief information officer, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, notified employees that cybercriminals have dramatically increased their phishing attempts. These are emails that try to solicit sensitive information through malicious links and attachments. Messages may appear to be handing out federal stimulus payments or tracking COVID-19 cases. They may look like they are coming from official organizations like the IRS, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Do not click on links or attachments that ask for personal or financial information. Do not complete forms to qualify for payments – eligible people will receive checks or deposits directly from the Internal Revenue Service. As always, never give personal, patient, or sensitive Kaiser Permanente information to someone unless you are sure of his or her identity, and certain that they are authorized to obtain that information. To learn more about detecting and reporting phishing, visit kp.org/phishing

Yes. We have been developing additional methods of providing care should the surge exceed our bed capacity. We are able to transfer patients to alternative hospitals like USNS Mercy, the new LA Surge Hospital, and numerous temporary field hospitals. Further, we have converted more than 90% of our primary care appointments to virtual care. This has readied supplementary resources to meet the expected growth in needed care. Kaiser Permanente has confronted highly infectious diseases over the years, and we are confident we can safely and expertly treat coronavirus patients while maintaining the safety of our employees and physicians.