A warm welcome to the newest members of our Caregiver Team!

• Russ Watson Permanent EMS Director
• Lauren Adame – CNA 
• Melissa Pecina – RN
• Jay Radcliffe – Housekeeping

Congratulations!!!!

Please join us in congratulating Hope Anderson on successfully passing her RN boards!

The search for a permanent CEO is underway

The KCHD Board has completed the candidate screening process as well as in person discussions.  They are currently reviewing input received and contract terms.  Stay tuned! 

In the meantime, the Interim CEO agreement has been extended. Jeanette is still available and working onsite as well as remotely.  If you have any difficulties reaching Jeanette, contact Beth in HR for assistance.  Please also note there has been a change in the Clinic reporting structure.  The Clinic Manager now reports directly to the CEO and not the CNO.    

Calling ALL Caregivers and Community Members!

Interested in becoming an EMT?  There will be several classes offered in the next few months.  Stay tuned!

Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)

The Senate Appropriations Committee released proposed language for its spending bill. Unfortunately, the Kiowa County Hospital District project was not included in the Senate text. The funding available was very limited, which meant that the subcommittees were operating within very narrow constraints. To say this is a disappointment is an understatement.  We will pursue again next year.    

Chronic Care Management (CCM)

We are excited to have gone LIVE with our CCM program Monday, 8/1/22.  Please be aware that our team may receive calls from patients asking about the program's legitimacy, which is very common as we begin and will slowly taper off.  ChartSpan is the name of our care management program. 

Do we need to still be wearing a mask at the hospital and clinic?

The short answer……YES!

State law requires people to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep others safe.

KCHD requires masks in all patient care settings as well as areas where groups are unable to adhere to social distancing, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS.   

Latest Outbreak: MONKEYPOX; 79 cases in Colorado with one in Prowers County identified this week.

“Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder, and monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.” (CDC, 2022)

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

A rash that may be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butthole) but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth.

The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.

The rash can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

How’s It Spread?

Monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including:

Direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox.

Touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox.

Contact with respiratory secretions.

This direct contact can happen during intimate contact, including:

Oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or anus (butthole) of a person with monkeypox.

• Hugging, massage, and kissing.
• Prolonged face-to-face contact.
• Touching fabrics and objects during sex that were used by a person with monkeypox and that have not been disinfected, such as bedding, towels, fetish gear, and sex toys.
• A pregnant person can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta.

A person with monkeypox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. 

How Can I Prevent Catching The POX?

Avoid direct contact with those infected. If providing direct care to those infected or who might be infected, wear proper PPE including gloves, gown, eye protection and mask. Wash your hands with soap and water!

Jury Duty

A reminder to staff that if they have received a summons, you must communicate with your department manager and HR to ensure coverage.

Department Head & Quality Meeting - Scheduled as planned to be held on Tuesday, August 9^th

Well-Child Exams & Sports Physicals

Eads Medical Clinic is offering Sports Physicals for all Grades.  Come in for your Annual Well-Child Exam and your Sports Physical is FREE.

Sports Physicals apply to all school age children, including Preschool, College, Camp, Etc.

Consent Forms must be signed by a parent or guardian

$20 Fee for Sports Physicals without an Annual Well Child Visit.  A Well-Child Exam may be Self-pay or billed to Insurance

Contact Eads Medical Clinic to schedule: (719) 438-2251 

Monday – Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm; Saturday 9:00AM – 1:00pm

Code of Conduct

Did you miss the deadline??  Attached is the revised Code of Conduct.  We need all staff and volunteers to review and then return a signed acknowledgement to Human Resources ASAP!!

Recruitment & Referral Bonus 

The Staffing Quest Continues:  We are actively recruiting for the following positions: Dietary Aide, CNAs, Housekeeping Aide

(Recruitment of these new team members would qualify for a Recruitment Bonus – see below)

$500 Employee Referral Bonus for full-time (FT) positions; $250 Employee Referral Bonus for part-time (PT)positions 

On date of hire of the applicant, the referring KCHD employee will receive $50 (FT position) or $25 (PT position)

After 6 months of employment by the applicant, the referring KCHD employee will receive $150 (FT) or $75 (PT)

At the conclusion of 1 year of employment by the applicant, the referring KCHD employee will receive the remaining $300 (FT) or $150 (PT) of the $500 (FT) or $250 (PT) Referral Bonus

All applicable taxes and withholdings will be deducted as required by law

Payment will be made in accordance with normal Payroll processes and timelines. 

No previous applications are eligible

Procedures: 

Applicant must list the KCHD Employee as a reference on their application for employment

KCHD Employee must submit written request for Referral Bonus to HR for verification. 

* Employers are facing more severe talent shortages than any time in history. With this program, you can help us ‘pick the team.’ Questions can be directed to HR    

Premium Pay  

The Premium Pay policy for picking up additional critical shifts in your work area was expanded to include the dietary, housekeeping and laundry departments. 

Critical Shifts and Staffing

If you are able to pick-up a critical shift in another department, especially housekeeping or dietary, overtime pay is approved should you exceed 40 hours/week.  Please help if you can. 

CDPHE: Colorado Vaccine Mandate Expired July 14 

On July 14, the Colorado Board of Health vaccine mandate expired.  

Note: The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate remains in effect. 

Key takeaways for licensed facilities and agencies:

Effective July 14, current obligations under Part 12 of 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 2 related to COVID-19 vaccination expire. 

This includes the associated obligation to report into Colorado Health Facilities Interactive (COHFI) on a twice-monthly basis. 

Facilities certified by CMS are still subject to the federal government’s vaccine mandate. 

The requirements of Part 11 of Chapter 2 regarding vaccination against influenza are still in effect and not impacted by the expiration of these emergency rules. 

Despite the expiration of these rules, facilities and agencies may maintain any mandatory vaccination policies they have adopted to date.