UW Medicine’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reports on our ability to maintain normal operations using a scale from “monitoring” to “high level of activation” based on information about community transmission rates, hospital admissions, staffing capacity, space availability, PPE supplies and other impacts on the health system.
This update provides a quick look at some of the key data used by the EOC to determine UW Medicine’s current level of activation. For more detailed information, you can review the EOC’s situation status reports.
EOC Level of Activation
May 3, 2022: The EOC is at a Low-Mid Level of Activation based on current numbers for COVID-19 admissions, staffing capacity and community transmission. COVID-19 patients represent 1.78% of hospital admissions. UW Medicine hospitals are caring for 21 patients with COVID-19. As of yesterday, 191 employees were on leave due to COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.
UW Medicine COVID-19 Inpatients
Daily Capacity Data Report
The Daily Capacity Data Report shows the total occupancy and the number of COVID-19 patients at each hospital.
Employees Out of Office Due to COVID-19
King County and Washington State Epidemiology
King County: Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting 397,751 cases and 2,739 deaths as of May 2. The number of new cases over the last seven days is currently at 261.1 per 100,000 people.
Washington: The Department of Health reports 1,510,309 total cases and 12,706 deaths as of May 1.
EOC Priorities
Vaccine (New): Due to lower demand, UW Medical Center – Northwest will close its mass vaccination site on May 16.
COVID-19 Therapeutics (New & Continuing): Employees and patients are now provided with information on eligibility criteria for therapeutics and how to access them when they receive results from UW Medicine COVID-19 test sites. Patient outreach continues to provide information on how to self-attest to eligibility and join the scheduling waitlist for Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody therapy for pre-exposure prevention.
Quarantine and Isolation Policy (Continuing): UW Medicine has returned to contingency status for staffing due to the number of healthcare workers who are currently in quarantine for exposure or in isolation for infection. As a result, Employee Health has implemented the CDC contingency level for isolation, which shortens isolation from 10 days to 5 days for employees with improved symptoms and no fever. See the policy for details.
Community Transmission Rates (Continuing): The EOC is monitoring transmission rates for potential impacts on hospitalizations. While the seven-day rate of new cases per 100,000 people in King County has increased from 50.5 on March 21 to 261.1 today, the number of inpatients remains steady for now in the low 20s.
Stay Informed
Employee News:
In the Media:
- Administration expands availability of COVID antiviral pill, Dr. Shireesha Dhanireddy, Infectious Diseases, KIRO
- University of Washington creates new COVID-19 vaccine, David Veesler & Neil King, Biochemistry, MyNorthwest
- Clinicians grapple with decisions in crisis-care simulation, Dr. Catherine Butler, Nephrology, Medical Xpress
Ongoing communications:
- Emergency Operations Updates: Scheduled for Tuesdays.
- Dr. John Lynch COVID-19 Update: Scheduled for Thursdays every two weeks.
- Town Halls: Generally scheduled for 3 p.m. on Fridays; Check your email for announcements (recordings available).
- Community Conversations: Check you email for dates and times (recordings available).
- EOC Situation Reports: Posted on the UW Medicine intranet (AMC login required).
- Leadership Messages and Employee Resources: Posted on The Huddle.
Sincerely,
UW Medicine Leadership
