Forks Community Hospital Status Report for Forks & West End

25 Nov Forks Community Hospital Status Report for Forks & West End

Posted at 11:25h in covid-19 by Shannon Damron

Sources:

http://www.clallam.net/Coronavirus/

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100klast7days

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/DataDashboard

https://coronavirus.wa.gov/what-you-need-know/covid-19-risk-assessment-dashboard

Forks Community Hospital

Numbers reflect those shared by sources on 01/19/2021 @ 4.44 pm

Forks Community Hospital News

Forks Community Hospital has an exciting career opportunity to share with you. Apply online for a Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) position. Should you be selected, you will be enrolled in our course to help you become a certified nursing assistant! The hospital could not run without our NAC’s; they are a pivotal role in healthcare. If you have been thinking about starting a new career, we can help you start that journey. Apply at https://jobs.forkshospital.org/clinical-jobs and click on Nursing Assistant Student – Per Diem. For more information contact Lucritia Stansbury at lucritias@forkshopsital.org.
See below for information regarding an upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Join Forks Community Hospital CEO, Heidi Anderson at the Chamber of Commerce meeting today at noon. Call 360-374-2531 for the zoom meeting link.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Forks Community Hospital has received permission from Department of Health to start Phase 1B (Tier 1) group Vaccinations. Quillayute Valley School District, The City of Forks, and Forks Community Hospital will be hosting a vaccination clinic for persons in the Phase 1B (Tier 1) group Friday, January 22, 2021, and Saturday, January 23, 2021, starting at 10:00 am and ending at 3:00 pm. If you are 65 years old and older, or 50 years old and older, who live in a multigenerational household*, you can receive a free Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. You will need a mask, pen, and photo identification. You will be completing paperwork onsite before receiving your vaccination. Between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, eligible individuals who wish to receive their INITIAL DOSE of the COVID-19 vaccine need to arrive at the Peninsula College parking area, located at 481 S Forks Avenue. Please remain in your car until you are given instructions. You will receive a number in a first-come, first-serve basis. If you do not meet the Phase 1B (Tier 1) criteria, you will be asked to return at a future date. Again, those 65 years old and older, and those 50 years old and older, who live in a multigenerational household* will be given a free Moderna COVID-19 vaccination. Be prepared to be monitored for up to 30 minutes after receiving your vaccination.
This is the questionnaire that will be completed, along with additional paperwork, prior to receiving the vaccine
- If you answer “yes” to any of these questions you may need to provide us with a note from your primary care provider stating that you may receive the vaccine, or we cannot proceed.
- The questions are attached, and can be seen here https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/pre-vaccination-screening-form.pdf.
Second dosage information will be given to patients at the time of the vaccination.
Additional information regarding other groups will be released as the vaccination clinics are scheduled.
- *Department of Health defines a multi-generational household as 3 or more generations living in the same home.
For questions regarding THIS VACCINATION CLINIC ONLY, please contact Shawn Shotwell; Community Health Coordinator. 360-327-8325
IMPORTANT – All questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department of Health Vaccination Phased Plan, and other vaccination related questions must be directed to Clallam County Emergency Management at 360-417-2483.
- Clinic and Hospital Reception Staff CANNOT answer your questions accurately.
At this time, we are not able to make appointments or start a list of those who are interested in the vaccine, we will let you know when this begins.
Vaccination of front-line workers (Phase 1a) is continuing and going very well.
- Forks Community Hospital front-line workers that have received the vaccination have not reported any severe reactions to either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. The hospital has administered COVID-19 vaccinations to over 50% of the staff and 80% of the residents of Long Term Care.
Washington State Department of Health has a draft explaining phased vaccination guidelines that can be seen here Interim COVID-19 Vaccination Plan (wa.gov).
Did you know the vaccine is given in groups of ten? This prevents the waste of any of the vaccine, as there are ten doses in each vial.
Governor Jay Inslee’s office can be reached at 360-902-4111 or PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 for feedback regarding the phased COVID-19 vaccination plan.

COVID-19 & Testing for Travel

Should you have an essential travel need, first check with the destination’s Department of Health page for all COVID-19 restrictions and requirements.
Call your airline if flying – many airlines have a list of accepted COVID-19 testing locations.
- For example, Hawaiian Airlines has a list of locations they send to passengers; passengers register with the airline in advance, and the airline dictates the passengers’ testing windows.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations – make sure to call in advance to ensure they are appropriately listed as a testing center and to determine the amount of time to anticipate for results to be generated.
Many Walgreens locations in Washington State allow for you to register for a COVID-19 test.
- https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing
Costco has a travel approved COVID-19 test kit for around $140. Make sure to check with your destination to ensure this kit is on the allowed list.
- https://www.costco.com/covid-test.html
COVID-19 tests for travel often incur a cost. Call around to find the best price.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing by Department of Health

Attached you will find general infographics, in both English and Spanish, developed by Department of Health that outlines what you will and will not be asked. The English version can be found here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/CT-WhatToExpectOnePagerEnglish.pdf
Allison Unthank MD, MPH – Clallam County Health Officer was clear, should someone claiming to be a contact tracer ask you for your social security number, immigration information, or financial information you should hang up and contact local law enforcement.
Should you be contacted by a contact tracer and are worried that the call may be fraudulent, you can call (360) 417- 2274 to ensure the person contacting you is truly a contact tracer.
If you test positive for COVD-19, you can find the questions you will be asked here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/CT-WhatToExpectPositiveEnglish.pdf
If you came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you can find the questions you will be asked here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/CT-WhatToExpectContactEnglish.pdf
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are urged to call the Department of Health at (360)417-2274. They will take you through the process, step-by-step, to determine if you require isolation and/or COVID-19 testing.

COVID-19 TESTING AT FORKS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Forks Community Hospital IS NOT A COVID-19 TESTING CENTER. Forks Community Hospital is a Public Hospital with Rural Health Clinics.
COVID-19 testing must be ordered by a provider.
- Forks Community Hospital follows Department of Health guidelines for testing and does not recommend ordering testing until 5 to 7 days after a true exposure* to COVID-19 or 24 hours after the onset of non-life threatening symptoms to allow time for the viral load to develop (amount of virus in the blood cells). This will increase the accuracy of the COVID-19 test and lower the probability of a false negative. *A true exposure is defined as being less than 6 feet from a person that has been confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days, for longer than 15 minutes, without wearing a facial covering.
- Patients who develop COVID-19 symptoms or patients experiencing shortness of breath will be tested as the provider deems necessary.
- Forks Community Hospital recommends that at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery* prior to returning to work. * Recovery is defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) and 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
  - It is not necessary to be tested after a positive COVID-19 test; you can remain positive for many weeks but will no longer be contagious.
What type of COVID-19 test is used at Forks Community Hospital?
- Forks Community Hospital Laboratory performs COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) testing using the “gold standard” method: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that detects viral DNA in specimens collected from the nasopharyngeal cavity.
What is the turnaround time and accuracy of the test used?
- The procedure takes 45 minutes and is performed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The test detects 98% of COVID-19 Positives and 100% of COVID-19 Negatives.
I am traveling to a state that requires a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the plane; can I get my test at Forks Community Hospital?
- Forks Community Hospital follows Department of Health guidelines and all testing must be ordered by a provider based on patient symptoms.
- COVID-19 Testing Centers provide tests to non-symptomatic patients.
- Call Department of Health at 360.417.2274 for all information regarding COVID-19, COVID-19 testing options, and testing center locations.

Assistance

Attached is the news release regarding Laptop access through the North Olympic Library System. All NOLS locations have laptops available for patron use. The loan period is 2 hours for use on library property.
Department of Health has resources for uninsured patients that need an influenza vaccination – https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/Flu/NoCostVaccines
Here is a link to the 211 website for non-emergency assistance, as outlined in a separate information release: win211.org. If you would like to speak with a live person, call (833)492-0834.
The Clallam County Hotline number is (360)417-2430.
A toll free line has been established for those also in need. Whether child care, food or prescription delivery, mental health or any other need, people can call 1(833)492-0834 for referral to assistance.
Forks Food Bank is located at 181 Bogachiel Way in Forks. The Food Bank is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. P.O. Box 763 Forks, WA 98331
Forks Food Bank has become the Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline box distribution hub. Boxes arrive shortly before the food bank opens. For more information call (360)640.8211.
The County Emergency Operations Center is operational Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
Forks Abuse, located at 81 S 2nd Ave, Forks, WA has a food pantry outside and is accepting donations daily.
The Caring Place has diapers available for families in need. Call (360)374.5010

Behavioral Health

In response to COVID-19, Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic. People who call the Washington Listens support line will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous. The Washington Listens support line is 1(833)681-0211. It is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method.
ImHurting Crisis Chat is a service offered through Volunteers of America Western Washington. Their toll-free 24-hour crisis hotline number is 1(888)910-0416. The 24-hour crisis online chat is at imhurting.org.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1(800)273-8255 and is available 24 hours a day
West End Outreach Services continues to be open regular business hours. Our providers are offering all behavioral health services over the telephone so the community can continue to “Stay Home and Stay Safe.”

- West End Outreach Services are available by phone at (360)374-5011
- Monday and Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Updated 01.19.2021 @ 4:40 pm