As a containment strategy to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and in keeping with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local health departments, Kettering Health Network will be taking measures to ensure business continuity for services which support our operations.

Click the links below for the latest updates from Incident Command.

Looking for Medical Staff updates? Click here to access the dedicated Medical Staff page.

Latest Updates

September 8

• 8:01 a.m. – Update to Screening Process for Administrative Facilities Only

September 1

• 10 a.m. – Travel Update

August 24

• 9:26 a.m. – Masks with Exhalation Valves or Vents

August 18

• 4:41 p.m. – Visitor Restrictions Update

August 5

• 11:57 a.m. – New Alcohol Disinfecting Wipes
• 9:43 a.m. – Updated Visitor Restrictions Effective 8-6-2020

July 30

• 2:48 p.m. – Guidelines for Patients and Visitors Refusing to Wear a Mask

July 28

• 1:40 p.m. – Non-Patient Facing Employees Mask Update
• 1:18 p.m. – Ohio Travel Advisory 
• 11:21 a.m. – Now Available – COVID-19 Self Checker
• 9:37 a.m. – Network Adopting New CDC Recommendations for Non-Test Based Strategy 

July 24

• 11:54 a.m. – Kettering Health Network’s Guidance of PPE for Kettering Physician Network and Other Outpatient Areas

July 23

• 8:36 a.m. – Network Guideline for Mask Exemption

July 22

• 1:38 p.m. – COVID-19 Employee Assistance Fund Update

July 16

• 1:10 p.m. – Optional N95 for Direct Patient Care Employees

July 13

• 9:33 a.m. – Employee Screening

June 23

• 2:12 p.m. – Kroger Health to Offer Drive-Thru and Walk-Up Testing Site in Dayton

June 22

• 9:45 a.m. – Conference Room Usage Guidelines

June 19

• 4:18 p.m. – Network Operations Command Center Clarification
• 11 a.m. – Incident Command Stand Down
• 9:37 a.m. – Importance of Continuing Safe Practices
• 9:12 a.m. – Removing COVID-19 Confirmed Flags from Epic Storyboard

June 17

• 8:20 a.m. – Huber Health Center Drive-thru COVID-19 Testing

June 15

• 8:05 a.m. – Mask Storage Update

June 12

• 7:40 a.m. – Safety First: Supplies in Patient Rooms 

June 9

• 5:44 p.m. – Removing Inpatients and Returning Patients from Isolation and Resolving Epic Flags for Confirmed COVID-19

June 4

• 9:44 a.m. – Network Expanding COVID-19 Testing
• 7:25 a.m. – Resuming Normal Employee Health Operations

June 1

• 9:27 a.m. – Safety First Product Update: Do Not Discard empty Oxivir Spray Bottles

May 29

• 7: 52 a.m. – Network Gyms to Remain Closed

May 27

• 11:53 a.m. – YMCA Child Care Subsidy Continues Through June 19

May 26

• 3:23 p.m. – New FAQ Section on k-news site

May 22

• 2:01 p.m. – Travel Guidance for Employees

May 21

• 8:04 a.m. – Safety First Cleaning: Product Update

May 20

• 8:12 a.m. – Approved Clipboard Types

May 18

• 3:50 p.m. – Updated Visitor Restrictions Effective May 19

May 13

• 8:23 a.m. – Masks for Behavioral Health Patients – Updated

May 8

• 2:20 p.m. – Reminder: Hand Sanitizer Dispenser Refills
• 2:14 p.m. – Vendors and Supply Partners Update

May 7

• 9:42 a.m. – Mandatory Quarantine Extension Through May 29
• 8:48 a.m. – Safety First Cleaning and Patient Messaging
• 8:08 a.m. – Masks for Behavioral Health Patients

May 5

• 3:10 p.m. – RAPID Test (Nasal Swab) for Coronavirus Specimen Test
• 3:01 p.m. – Nasopharyngeal Swab for Coronavirus Specimen Test

May 1

• 6:29 p.m. – Expiring Mandatory Quarantine Program Extension
• 10:03 a.m. – New Mask Updates for Patients, Visitors, and Staff

April 30

• 8 p.m. – Process for Obtaining COVID-19 Testing Results from Kroger/KHN Drive-through Testing Clinics
• 9:07 a.m. – Further Clarification of PPE to Use for Cardiac Arrest in the Hospital Setting

April 29

• 4:57 p.m. – Handsewn Masks Request
• 4:30 p.m. – HealthStream Assignments Updated
• 7:44 a.m. – 120-Day Extension for Resuscitation Results

April 28

• 9:33 a.m. – COVID-19 Employee Support and Concerns
• 8:41 a.n. – Use of Gloves by Staff and Visitors to Kettering Health Network Facilities
• 8:26 a.m. – Mandatory Safety-first Education Assignment

April 24

• 7:28 p.m. – Employee Testing for COVID-19
• 4:37 p.m. – Coping with Stress During COVID-19
• 4:34 p.m. – Clarification for Students

April 22

• 8 a.m. – Kroger Health to Offer COVID-19 Testing at Kettering Health Network

April 21

• 5:56 p.m. – Health Care Workers Appreciation Display

April 17

• 6:46 p.m. – Update: Code and Intubation Protocols During COVID-19
• 11:11 a.m. – Free Dietitian-led Telenutrition Services During COVID-19
• 8:33 a.m. – COVID-19 Workforce Survey

April 16

• 7:56 p.m. – Updated Discharge to Post-Acute Facilities Criteria
• 7:51 p.m. – Mask Wearing FAQs for All Staff and Providers

April 14

• 6:08 p.m. – Mask Wearing Now Required for Health Care Personnel

April 10

• 5:22 p.m. – Acceptance of Patient Property at Screening Station
• 4:15 p.m. – Clarification for Mask Expectations
• 7:43 a.m. – COVID-19 in Epic Storyboard

April 9

• 7:07 p.m. – COVID-19 Support Time and Attendance Tracking Documentation
• 6:43 p.m. – Getting Your Prescribed Medications

April 8

• 7:01 p.m. – PPE Expansion
• 4:42 p.m. – Screening Temperature Process

April 7

• 5:03 p.m. – UPDATE: Isolation Gown Conservation Strategy

April 6

• 5:02 p.m – “Film Your Hospital” Awareness
• 1:22 p.m. – Network Media Policy
• 11:06 a.m. – Collection of Used N95 Masks for Reprocessing
• 9:41 a.m. – Updated Visitor Restriction Policy Effective April 6

April 5

• 4:21 p.m. – Capturing Used N95 Masks for Reprocessing
• 3:44 p.m. – Update to Care of Deceased Patients with COVID-19 or Deceased Person Under Investigation (PUI)
• 1:47 p.m. – Collection of N95 Masks
• 1:30 p.m. – Room Logs No Longer Needed

April 4

• 7:39 p.m. – Mask Cover Clarification
• 5:49 p.m. – PPE Guide for N95 Masks (Video)

April 3

• 7:14 p.m. – Nasopharyngeal Specimen Collection with Swab Technique
• 3:36 p.m. – Cleaning Disposable Stethoscopes
• 3:25 p.m. – Clergy Visitation Policy

April 2

• 7:31 p.m. – Morgue Overflow Process
• 6:37 p.m. – Clarification Regarding Wearing of Surgical Masks and N95 Respirators
• 9:20 a.m. – 60-Day Extension for Resuscitation Credentials (BLS/ACLS/ALS) Due in March or April 2020

April 1

• 7 p.m. – Personal Protective Equipment Update
• 6:37 p.m. – Distribution of Network-issued Isolation Masks
• 4:37 p.m. – Accepting Food Donations During COVID-19
• 11:44 a.m. – End of Life Visitor Guidelines

March 31

• 5:11 p.m. – Discharge COVID-19 Pending Patients To HOME ONLY

March 30

• 7:47 a.m. – UPDATE: PPE Donation Process

March 29

• 5:40 p.m. – Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Designated Care Unit Telesitter or 1:1 Monitoring

March 28

• 4:38 p.m. – Guidance on Use of Personal Protective Equipment

March 27

• 9:15 p.m. – Mobile Care Transport of Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 Patients
• 6:50 p.m. – Patient Privacy
• 1:18 p.m. – Update to Visitor Restrictions for Maternity
• 12:40 p.m. – Staffing and Attendance Guidelines for SRO Float Pool
• 12:11 p.m. – Patient Options for Telemedicine
• 7:30 a.m. – Chaplain Chat

March 26

• 7:16 p.m. – PPE and Cleaning for Mobile Health Care Technology in Designated Units/Areas
• 5:14 p.m. – Silica Packets Inside Go Bags
• 11:36 a.m. – Personal PPE for All Personnel

March 25

• 4:17 p.m. – Revision for Waste Removal Process
• 3:54 p.m. – Payer Contract and Discharge Planning Updates
• 1 p.m. – Clarification Regarding Wearing of Masks on Designated Units
• 9:30 a.m. – COVID-19 Employee Support Resources

March 24

• 5:33 p.m. – N95 and Goggle Distribution to Clinical Areas
• 12:59 p.m. – Surgical Mask Covers
• 12:43 p.m. – Employee Notice: PPE Reminders
• 12:28 p.m. – Travel for Essential Personnel during Ohio’s Stay at Home Order

March 23

• 7:14 p.m. – Mask Covers
• 2:19 p.m. – Surgery Consolidation Updates
• 2:14 p.m. – Epic SmartPhrase Designated Unit Discharge
• 2:07 p.m. – Staffing Resource Center Update

March 22

• 9:55 p.m. – Work from Home Bandwidth Guidelines
• 5:52 p.m. – KHN Designated Care Unit Standard Operating Procedures
• 5:08 p.m. – PPE Distribution Protocol
• 11:04 a.m. – Powered Air-purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Plan
• 9:51 a.m. – COVID-19 Employee Screening FAQs

March 21

• 2:49 p.m. – Revised: Isolation Gown Conservation Strategy
• 12:30 p.m. – 24/7 Employee Health Call Center
• 8:30 a.m. – Isolation Gown Conservation Strategy

March 20

• 1:30 p.m. – New Visitor Restriction Policy Effective March 20

March 19

• 7:17 p.m. – Employee Screenings
• 5:26 p.m. – Employee Health COVID-19 Screening Tools
• 5:06 p.m. – COVID-19 Attendance Guidelines
• 3:15 p.m. – Necessary Personal Protective Equipment Sign

March 18

• 5:45 p.m. – Isolation Protocols
• 1:45 p.m. – Personal Protective Equipment for Suspected or Known COVID-19 Patients*
• 12:45 p.m. – List of COVID-19 Testing Sites Southwest Ohio Region #1
• 10:10 a.m. – YMCA Partnership Offers Child Care Services
• 8:51 a.m. – Releasing Medical Records

March 17

• 1:13 p.m. – Meetings in Microsoft Team

March 16

• 6 p.m. – COVID-19 Employee Assistance Fund
• 10:35 a.m. – HIPAA Permitted Disclosures

March 15

• 5:15 p.m. – Child Care Survey
• 2:05 p.m. – Visitor Restriction Policy

March 14

• 3:37 p.m. – Medical Staff Initial Communication

March 13

• 5:38 p.m. – Volunteer Support
• 5:12 p.m. – Vendor Communication
• 4:27 p.m. – Visitor Restriction Policy
• 1:11 p.m. – Job Shadowing

Recommendations

Please help us keep you, your family and your community healthy:

• Do not leave home if you have symptoms of a viral illness such as a cough and/or fever. If you develop a cough and/or fever at home, please see your primary care provider and contact Employee Health.
• If you live with an immunocompromised family member, you need to remember that you could be the transmitter of a viral illness to them. Please take appropriate personal precautions.
• Refrain from hand shaking.
• Practice frequent and proper hand hygiene.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Masks are not recommended as a preventive tactic.

Resources

The CDC has also set up a dedicated website for ongoing COVID-19 information. Click here to view that page.

For general COVID-19 questions, the Ohio Department of Health has set up a hotline to answer questions. The call center is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-427-5634.

Other resources include:

• CDC FAQ for Health Care Professionals
• CDC Guidance for Community and Faith-based Organizations
• CDC Guidance for Households
• CDC Guidance for Mass Gatherings and Large Events
• CDC Guidance for Higher Education
• Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Checklists

Questions

If you still have questions regarding COVID-19, please submit your question via the myHR portal or call myHR at 1-844-235-4647 or ext. 70000.