Please note that as of Monday, March 13, UK HealthCare no longer requires employees to perform daily screening for COVID symptoms.

Employees are still encouraged not to come to work sick.

Because the screening tool has been discontinued, we have also discontinued the screening for employee drive-thru testing. If an employee is experiencing COVID or other symptoms, they should consult with their primary care physician or obtain a test at one of the UK retail pharmacies that offer testing and treatment.

You may request an appointment at:

• Kentucky Clinic Retail Pharmacy
• Apothecary (Gatton Student Center) Retail Pharmacy
• Fountain Court PharmacistCare clinic

The following have been reviewed and updated under Guidelines and Documents:

• Interim Pharmacotherapy Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection in Hospitalized Adult Patients (updated 2-28-23)
• Interim Pharmacotherapy Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection in Nonhospitalized Adult Patients (updated 2-28-23)
• Interim Pharmacotherapy Guidance for the Inpatient Management of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection in Pediatric Patients  (updated 2-23-23)
• Interim Pharmacotherapy Guidance for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) (updated 1-26-23)

This update taken today from the CDC Tracker for community transmission describes the amount of COVID-19 spread within each county. Health care facilities use Transmission Levels to determine infection control interventions.

NOTE:  Current 7-days is Thu Mar 09 2023 – Wed Mar 15 2023 for case rate and Tue Mar 07 2023 – Mon Mar 13 2023 for percent positivity. The percent change in counties at each level of transmission is the absolute change compared to the previous 7-day period.

This update taken today from the CDC Tracker for community transmission describes the amount of COVID-19 spread within each county. Health care facilities use Transmission Levels to determine infection control interventions.

NOTE: Current 7-days is Thu Mar 02 2023 – Wed Mar 08 2023 for case rate and Tue Feb 28 2023 – Mon Mar 06 2023 for percent positivity. The percent change in counties at each level of transmission is the absolute change compared to the previous 7-day period.

Beginning Monday, March 13, UK HealthCare will begin Phase 1 of our COVID de-escalation plan. COVID testing and some masking requirements will change.

• Discontinue as of Monday, March 13:
  • Testing, screening for asymptomatic patients (admission and pre-procedure).
  • Employee symptom screening.
  • Universal masking in ambulatory areas, except for patient encounters. Note: In the ambulatory setting while in the exam room, a mask for the provider (not the patient) is recommended for face-to-face interactions with the patient. In all inpatient settings, masking is still required.
• Continue universal masking:
  • Cancer and transplant clinics
  • Chandler, Good Samaritan, Kentucky Children’s and Eastern State hospitals.

Infection Prevention & Control will continue to closely monitor flu, COVID and RSV data to determine when it is safe to de-escalate in hospitals.

Employees who prefer to wear a medical-grade mask may continue to do so. See answers to your questions below.

Read more…

This update taken today from the CDC Tracker for community transmission describes the amount of COVID-19 spread within each county. Health care facilities use Transmission Levels to determine infection control interventions.

NOTE: Current 7-days is Thu Feb 16 2023 – Wed Feb 22 2023 for case rate and Tue Feb 14 2023 – Mon Feb 20 2023 for percent positivity. The percent change in counties at each level of transmission is the absolute change compared to the previous 7-day period.

Beginning this week, Infection Prevention & Control has begun asking patients whether they are “up to date” with COVID vaccination, which per CDC guidelines means they have received the updated bivalent booster.

Previously, in reporting the percentage of patients who have received COVID vaccination, those receiving the initial vaccination series were counted as vaccinated. Going forward, we will report the percent of patients who are up to date on vaccination.

For more information about being up to date on COVID vaccination, see Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters.

This update taken today from the CDC Tracker for community transmission describes the amount of COVID-19 spread within each county. Health care facilities use Transmission Levels to determine infection control interventions.

NOTE:  Current 7-days is Thu Jan 26 2023 – Wed Feb 01 2023 for case rate and Tue Jan 24 2023 – Mon Jan 30 2023 for percent positivity. The percent change in counties at each level of transmission is the absolute change compared to the previous 7-day period.

The FDA announced today that tixagevimab-cilgavimab is no longer authorized for emergency use in the U.S. The revised EUA limits Evusheld’s use when the combined frequency of non-susceptible SARS-CoV-2 variants nationally is less than or equal to 90%. Based on this, Evusheld is not currently authorized for use in the U.S. until further notice. Please see the full press release linked here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-announces-evusheld-not-currently-authorized-emergency-use-us. Read more…