We are showing that we are Beatitudes Strong because our campus currently is COVID-19 free. As the spread continues to decrease in Maricopa County and here on campus, we have been able to decrease the frequency of staff testing per our regulating agencies. We no longer will be doing twice a week testing for staff working in Plaza View or the Health Care Center.
Feb. 19th – We have some good news about vaccine rates here at the campus. Nearly all residents in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living have been vaccinated. (Those in Skilled Nursing received their second dose last month and those in Assisted Living will receive their second dose next week.) Our Independent Living residents have a vaccination rate of 85%. We are still compiling the statistics for the rate of vaccination among staff. I want to thank all who chose to be vaccinated. Fighting this pandemic is a team effort. We are protecting ourselves, our co-workers, residents, families and our community.
Four staff had positive test results this week (two Plaza View Assisted Living direct care staff, one Plaza View Assisted Living support staff and one Independent Living support staff). This past week, several staff have recovered and come back. Right now, we have 26 total positive staff. This past week, two Independent Living residents tested positive, several have recovered, and we now have 19 residents with active COVID-19 (none in Skilled Nursing or Advanced Memory Support, 13 residents in Plaza View Assisted Living/Early Memory Support, and six residents in Independent Living).
At our regularly scheduled mass testing on Monday, January 4, 315 staff were tested for COVID-19 and all were negative except four (1% positivity rate). This week, we have had several residents and staff recover from COVID-19, and we are thankful for their return to health. We are reporting 70 cases of COVID-19 among staff and residents.
Beatitudes Campus continues to see an increase in cases, which has doubled last week’s number of cases. As of today, we have 31 cases on campus – 20 staff and 11 residents. The individuals infected are across all campus areas. We continue to aggressively test staff and residents in our licensed areas as it is one of our tools to mitigate the spread.
On Monday, December 7, we tested 273 staff and contractors for COVID-19. We received 272 negative results and one positive result. This staff person who was positive works in maintenance, and contact tracing for possible exposure has been completed. We send our prayers for recovery to this staff person.
Arizona has seen “sporadic” activity since the flu season began on September 29th. There were 32 confirmed cases during the week of Oct. 12th for a total of 59 so far.
The second flu shot + clinic will be held:
Friday, December 7th from 9 to 11AM
Agelink Great Room (AGR)
By popular demand, besides Flushots, you will also be able to receive vaccines for Pneumonia, Shingles(finally available in less limited quantities) and Tetanus. You must pick up a consent form at the Welcome Desk in the Administration building. To receive the Tetanus shot, check mark “other” and indicate Tetanus.
Please refer to the November 12th Roadrunner issue for more specifics on each vaccine.
It is important you list your Medicare and other insurance numbers on the consent form for billing purposes. Please also bring your insurance cards to the clinic in case there are any questions. Not all shots are covered by Medicare and you may incur charges for different vaccines!
Sign up early! Completed consent forms must be returned to the Welcome Desk by no later than November 30. For any questions,please contact Gabi Holberg at ext. 18490. *
The long awaited news has arrived and we are able to host not only a second flu-shot clinic but also – FINALLY – offer shingle shots. The pharmacy is receiving more vaccines now and we should be able to accommodate a fair amount of requests at this point. We all know flu shots are important, but they are not the only one that matter. At this coming clinic you will be able to receive any of these vaccines:
Tetanus Shot – The tetanus shot, known as Adacel, should be given every ten years. This shot has an added benefit of not only protecting against tetanus, but also diphtheria and pertussis. Pertussis is also known as Whooping Cough, and is an important vaccination to have for those who spend time with grandchildren to protect them from this illness. When filling out the vaccination form for the pharmacy, you may simply write in “tetanus” next to desired vaccines if you wish to receive this shot.
The pneumonia shot is very important, and should be considered just as necessary as the flu shot. Pneumonia can not only result in hospitalization, but can also be acquired in the hospital when visiting for other health issues. It is wise to protect against this illness not only as we age, but especially in those with other long term health or breathing conditions, such as COPD, bronchitis, and asthma. There are two pneumonia shots available, and the appropriate shot is determined by both the date and version of the last pneumonia shot received. Please be sure to indicate your doctor’s name when requesting the pneumonia shot so that the pharmacy can contact your doctor and find out which version of the shot you need.
The new shingles shot should be given even if you have had a shingles shot any time prior to 2018. While the old vaccine was thought to protect for life, time has shown that it is not as effective as once thought. The new vaccine is much more effective, and should protect you for life. It is given in two parts – one shot now and one shot later in two to six months. While the tetanus, flu, and pneumonia shots are often covered by insurance without a co-pay, the shingles shot will sometimes require a co-payment depending on your insurance and how much you have paid into your deductible for the year. The end of the year is a good time to get this shot because you may have paid through your deductible by this time. If you want to get this shot, be sure to include your phone number on the form so the pharmacy can contact you if a co-payment is required.
Everybody knows how important the flu shot is. This should be given every year as soon as possible. Like others, the pharmacy offers the high dose or “senior” flu shot, which is designed to get the best immune system response from patients over 65. This shot can be given the same day as the shingles, pneumonia, or tetanus shot.
It is important to request every shot you wish to receive on the pharmacy form, even if you’ve previously turned in a separate request. The forms are once again available at the Welcome desk in the Administration lobby. You must also provide your Medicare number and any additional Insurance information you may have. It helps if you bring your cards to the clinic in case the team has any questions. All completed forms must be turned in at the Welcome desk by no later than Friday November 30, 2018.
The 2nd clinic will be held Friday, December 7th from 9—11AM (AGR).
Please check in at the intake table. Vaccines will be administered by the pharmacist and two of his team mates.
We are looking forward to serving you. For any questions until then, please call Gabi Holberg at x18490.*
I So far this flu season, Arizona has seen “sporadic” activity since the flu season began on September 30, 2018. There were 41 cases confirmed during the week of 10/14/18 through 10/20/18 for a total of 91 so far according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. This is up from 26 confirmed cases the week before. You may track the flu season activity at website: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/flu/index.php#surveillance-home
Each year we want to make sure that you have flu and pneumonia prevention tips readily available.
Below are excerpts from an article published on the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website about flu and pneumonia prevention last updated November 6, 2017.
Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help
“Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, needlessly affects millions of people worldwide each year. Pneumonia can often be prevented and can usually be treated. Lower your risk of pneumonia with vaccines and other healthy living practices.
Globally, pneumonia kills nearly 1 million children younger than 5 years of age each year. This is greater than the number of deaths from any infectious disease, such as HIV infection, malaria, or tuberculosis.
Pneumonia isn’t just a public health issue in developing countries though. Each year in the United States, about 1 million people have to seek care in a hospital due to pneumonia. Unfortunately, about 50,000 people die from the disease each year in the United States. Most of the people affected by pneumonia in the United States are adults.
Vaccines and appropriate treatment (like antibiotics and antivirals) could prevent many of these deaths—globally and in the United States.
Pneumococcal Recommendations for Older Adults:
CDC recommends 2 pneumococcal vaccines for adults 65 years or older.
Get a dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) first. Then get a dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at least 1 year later.
If you’ve already received PPSV23, get PCV13 at least 1 year after receipt of the most recent PPSV23 dose.
If you’ve already received a dose of PCV13 at a younger age, CDC does not recommend another dose.
Lower Your Risk with Vaccines
In the United States, vaccines can help prevent infection by some of the bacteria and viruses that can cause pneumonia:
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Influenza (flu)
Measles
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Pneumococcal
Varicella (chickenpox)
These vaccines are safe, but side effects can occur. Most side effects are mild and go away on their own within a few days. See the vaccine information statements for each vaccine to learn more about the most common side effects.
Protect Your Health with These Healthy Living Practices
Try to stay away from sick people. If you are sick, stay away from others as much as possible to keep from getting them sick. You can also help prevent respiratory infections by:
Washing your hands regularly
Cleaning surfaces that are touched a lot
Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or into your elbow or sleeve
Limiting contact with cigarette smoke
Managing and preventing conditions like diabetes
Pneumonia Affects the Young and Old
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Common signs of pneumonia can include cough, fever, and trouble breathing.
Some People Are More Likely to Get Pneumonia:
Adults 65 years or older
Children younger than 5 years old
People who have chronic medical conditions (like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)
People who smoke cigarettes
Encourage friends and loved ones with certain health conditions, like diabetes and asthma, to get vaccinated.
Causes and Types of Pneumonia
Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia. In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus). However, clinicians are not always able to find out which germ caused someone to get sick with pneumonia.
Community-acquired pneumonia is when someone develops pneumonia in the community (not in a hospital). Healthcare-associated pneumonia is when someone develops pneumonia during or following a stay in a healthcare facility. Healthcare facilities include hospitals, long-term care facilities, and dialysis centers. Ventilator-associated pneumonia is when someone gets pneumonia after being on a ventilator, a machine that supports breathing. The bacteria and viruses that most commonly cause pneumonia in the community are different from those in healthcare settings.”
It is important to remember that keeping your hands clean through hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands. Also, if you are experiencing flu like symptoms, please contact your physician and try to stay away from others to stop the spread. If you have not yet received your flu or pneumovax shot, please contact your physician to see if one may be a good idea for you.*
