Recently, the Colorado State Board of Health issued a new state-wide public health order that will require healthcare providers working in Ambulatory Surgery Centers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination effective September 30, 2021, and healthcare providers in a hospital setting to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination effective November 1, 2021.

The COVID-19 Delta variant likely tampered with job growth last month, according to the August 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation. In August 235,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy, the fewest jobs in seven months and less than half of the average monthly job growth of 586,000 that has been seen this year. The unemployment rate dropped to a 17-month low of 5.2%, down from 5.6%, a 16-month low. Employment is up by 17 million since April 2020 but down by 5.3 million, or 3.5%, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

While the healthcare sector overall lost 4,900 jobs in August, hospitals marked the second consecutive month of job growth, adding 3,200 jobs. Job losses occurred in nursing and residential care facilities (-6,900) and in ambulatory care settings (-1,200). Ambulatory care has typically been the largest job-producing segment within healthcare’s economic rebound. Overall, 513,400 healthcare jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic in February 2020, with nursing homes accounting for the majority of job loss (-383,200). Hospitals lost 84,800 jobs and ambulatory care settings lost 45,300 jobs during the same time period.

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is excited to announce an additional offering now available to our vendor partners. We will now offer candidates who are contracted at an HCA facility Red Cross Certifications for ALS, BLS, and PALS.

On Monday, Aug. 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, LVHN’s COVID-19 vaccination policy will take effect Tuesday, Aug. 24. All new contract starts effective Sept 9th must have a completed vaccine series.  All existing LVHN non-employed partners must complete the vaccine series by Oct. 19. Those who are not vaccinated by Oct. 19 will not be permitted to work or conduct business inside an LVHN facility.

HealthTrust Workforce Solutions is excited to share some upcoming changes to the way we onboard Vendor Partner Candidates for HCA! These changes will allow for quicker initiation speeds, proactive and improved communication, and ultimately result in expedited processing to Full Placement.   

Albany Medical Center recently announced that they are requiring all employees and contractors, both clinical and non-clinical, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. All individuals must be fully vaccinated by October 1st, 2021. If booster shots are deemed necessary, they will be required at the appropriate time. Exemptions and deferrals may be approved on a limited basis. Any contractor who does not receive an exemption or deferral or show proof of vaccination may not continue their assignment past September 30th, 2021.

The economy began the second half of the year with strong momentum, with the July 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Hiring Situation reporting that 943,000 new jobs were created last month. The gains were the largest seen in nearly a year and the unemployment rate ticked down to 5.6%, a 16-month low.

Healthcare added 36,800 jobs in July. Job gains in ambulatory health care services (31,900) and hospitals (18,300) than offset a loss of 13,400 jobs in nursing and residential care facilities. Healthcare employment remains down by 502,000 since February 2020.

Recently, the California Department of Public Health issued a new state-wide public health order that will require nearly everyone in the hospital – from employees to physicians and vendors – to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or to be tested twice a week. The order goes into effect Monday, August 9, 2021, and exempts hospital patients and their visitors.

As many have heard, HCA Healthcare is in the process of divesting Eastside Medical Center (Main and South Campus, Cartersville Medical Center and Coliseum Medical Center (Main and Northside Campus) to Piedmont Healthcare effective August 1, 2021. 

Dear Valued Partners,

Mercy Health System has made the decision to begin requiring full vaccination against COVID-19 for all current and future co-workers and/or contractors who serve and work in their facilities. As such, effective Thursday, September 30, 2021, all travelers and/or local contractors working in their facilities must be fully vaccinated to continue to work. If your travelers/contractors have not yet been vaccinated, please schedule now to ensure you may continue to work at or begin assignments at Mercy Health System's facilities. A copy of the contractor's vaccination card will suffice for verification of this requirement.