Face Shields for SHARE Members
SHARE is very happy to have received 500 face shields from local makers in the Worcester Face Shield Project. Organizers will be at the office this Friday, October 23rd, to distribute shields to members who arrange in advance. For more details — including how to arrange your own face shield pick-up — click here.
COVID Outbreaks among Staff at Two Massachusetts Hospitals: Why?
The spread of COVID continues to develop, as does the understanding of that spread. Thankfully, death rates are on the decline across demographics, suggesting that clinicians and caregivers continue to dial-in the effectiveness of the treatments they provide. At the same time, hospitals including Baystate Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have seen recent outbreaks of COVID among staff. As the hospital epidemiologists investigate what happened, they point to staff removing their masks to eat in crowded break rooms, and lack of eye protection, among other factors.
Flu Vaccine: SHARE Questions and Answers, Part 1
SHARE leaders met recently with Drs. Kimi Kobayashi (Chief Quality Officer) and Richard Ellison (Hospital Epidemiologist) to ask them some of the questions that SHARE members have been asking us about the flu vaccine and the new mandatory vaccination policy. Read more here . . .
Stop the Spread: Free COVID Testing, and Volunteers Needed!
UMass Memorial is staffing free COVID testing at locations in the community. SHARE has offered to help get the word out that they need volunteers to help run the events: providers to swab and people to register. Training is provided, and so is PPE, water and snacks. People who have volunteered say that they personally found it very rewarding work. Get a free COVID test while you are there!
UMass Memorial Changes Employee Assistance Provider
UMass Memorial has decided to change who provides Employees Assistance to employees. In the past, the Medical School EAP also served hospital employees. Now, the hospital will be contracting with an outside company to provide the service. We encourage you to learn more and provide feedback to SHARE in this anonymous survey. Thank you!