JUNE 10: DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE

NEW TODAY: Here’s the latest information about Michigan Medicine’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic:

• DAILY PATIENT STATS
• TEAM MEMBER TESTING STATS
• RICU CLOSURE
• IMPORTANCE OF WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, INCLUDING ON BUSES AND SHUTTLES
• EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY NEED FUND
• UPDATE: OXIVIR SPRAY BOTTLES
• NEW SCREENING LOCATION IN MED SCI II
• EMPLOYEE COMPLIANCE WITH VISITOR POLICY

DAILY PATIENT STATS

Today’s census for COVID-19 inpatients and those patients under investigation (PUI) are noted below: 

Discharges: 593 total COVID-19 discharges to date, 2 in the last 24 hours. These numbers include patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities but excludes deaths and discharges to hospice. 

TEAM MEMBER TESTING STATS*

* Data from 3/10 through 6/10. The testing stats reflect just Michigan Medicine employees, not all University of Michigan employees. It also reflects only those who sought testing at or were hospitalized at Michigan Medicine or reported their testing to Occupational Health Services. Some Michigan Medicine employees may have been tested outside our system.

RICU CLOSURE

Earlier this week, the final patient was discharged from the Regional Infectious Containment Unit (RICU), which housed many of Michigan Medicine’s COVID-19 patients. While the RICU is now closed for COVID-19 patients and will return to its prior function in C&W, contingency plans are in development should the organization need to reopen the unit in the months ahead due to a second wave of COVID-19 patients. 

The transition out of the RICU marks a major milestone in our organizational response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The RICU opened for patients on March 16 and closed June 9. As noted above, the organization now has fewer than 20 COVID-19 patients in our hospitals, down from a peak of almost 230. 

It was through the tremendous efforts of so many that we were able to rapidly activate a new unit, establish new care teams and provide exceptional care in the RICU for 84 days. All who contributed to this effort should be proud, and you have our deepest appreciation. Thank you.

IMPORTANCE OF WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, INCLUDING ON BUSES AND SHUTTLES

To help the organization remain on the down side of the curve and avoid a second wave, please remain vigilant when it comes to wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.

As per Michigan Medicine policy, any individual able to medically tolerate one must wear a covering over his or her nose and mouth — such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana or handkerchief — when in any enclosed public space.

All employees must supply their own face coverings to wear on university buses and shuttles (as they are considered enclosed spaces) when traveling to and from work. Masks and face coverings must also be worn in medical campus parking structure elevators, elevators in non-clinical buildings, hospital cafeterias and any other enclosed public area.

Click here for important information on how to properly wear medical masks, and here for tips to properly wear cloth masks.

In terms of social distancing, please remain six feet apart from all other individuals whenever possible at Michigan Medicine. To assist with this, no more than four people are allowed in a campus elevator at any one time, and those who can do so are encouraged to take the stairs.

Thank you for your cooperation.

EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY NEED FUND

In these unprecedented times, Michigan Medicine is supporting faculty and staff with the creation of an Employee Emergency Need Fund to provide individual grants to those in need of financial assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any Michigan Medicine faculty or staff member is eligible to apply for a grant of up to $1,500 in order to meet basic needs including housing, utilities, food, transportation, child care and more.

To apply for financial assistance through the Michigan Medicine Employee Emergency Need Fund, employees should complete an online application. Click here for more information. 

UPDATE: OXIVIR SPRAY BOTTLES

Due to a national shortage of pre-moistened Oxivir wipes, the health system has begun distributing spray bottles of Oxivir Tb and wipes to the units. Once a bottle of Oxivir Tb is empty, please place it in your soiled utility room for pick up by Environmental Services versus throwing in a waste basket. 

These bottles will be cleaned, refilled and redistributed across the health system for use. If a bottle is broken or not working, please label with a sticky note and place in the soiled utility rooms for pick up, as well.

Please contact your local leadership if you have any questions.

NEW SCREENING LOCATION IN MED SCI II

A screening location for hospital personnel has been established at the Med Sci II Building, third floor lobby. For accessible entry, please use the Buhl fourth floor entrance and follow the signs to the Med Sci II third floor screening location.  

For research reactivation screening, please continue to use your designated screening location:https://research.medicine.umich.edu/research-reactivation-updates.

EMPLOYEE COMPLIANCE WITH VISITOR POLICY

Please be advised that the organization’s visitor policy is effective for all people, including employees. You may not utilize your badges in order to visit colleagues at Michigan Medicine outside of visiting hours. Your cooperation in this matter will play a major role in the organization’s continuing efforts to reduce risk of transmitting COVID-19.

Still have questions?

We are also posting all bulletins and policies on Michigan Medicine Headlines at https://mmheadlines.org/covid-19-updates/.  Please bookmark that site and refer to it throughout the day for the most up-to-date information. An FAQ for staff is also posted and updated frequently.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for on these web pages, please email coronavirus-info@med.umich.edu and your question will be answered as quickly as possible.  Do not use this email for sharing patient health information.

Jeffrey Desmond, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer