After a monumental year, it's time to pause and thank providers and staff for their efforts and dedication to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please join us in celebrating "Thank You" Week, May 3 through 7-- a fun-filled week designed to celebrate our health care heroes.

Download the flyer here to promote within practices and with colleagues. All employees are encouraged to participate in the festivities!

Dear UT Health San Antonio faculty, staff, students and residents:

On April 20, a guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin for a horrific crime was rendered. We witnessed our legal system fulfilling its role in society. The verdict, however, does not erase the emotional trauma and pain felt by many, especially persons of color who are often subjected to race-based violence and systemic injustices. The national events of the past four weeks point out the need for us to work through these emotions and recommit ourselves to enabling positive, transformative change.

For UT Health San Antonio to best serve our patients and our community, we must first come from a place of “us.” Addressing health disparities and inequities cannot be done just by communities of color or marginalized individuals – making improvements is everyone’s responsibility. We must also look inward because societal change begins with ourselves. Further introspection also requires taking part in “courageous conversations,” where individuals can share their experiences and learn from each other in safe spaces. Our health care disciplines and scientific practices impel us continually to strive to improve communication and process.

In the days and months ahead, we should hold ourselves accountable to be engaged, show compassion and make sure we are taking care of ourselves and each other. In doing this, we are dependent on our individual resolve and collective desire to be inclusive.

Opportunities for engagement:

• Collective Healing Virtual Roundtables – Designed to provide our students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff a way to process their feelings and experiences in relation to recent events. 
• Listening Tours – Leaders meet with groups across campus to hear from university members about their experience at UT Health San Antonio and hear as to what it means to be an inclusive campus.
• Diversity Dialogues – Peer facilitated discussions for students to explore cross-cultural experiences, building community, human differences and to learn from each other in small group settings.

Support and wellness:

• UT Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Graduate Medical Education Wellness
• Student Counseling Center

Learning opportunities (*forthcoming):

• Office for Inclusion & Diversity Antiracism Resources
• Microaggression Train-the-Trainer Series*
• Implicit Bias Online Modules = UT Learns*

We have formed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, a 22-member committee representing all five schools, various campus units and governing bodies representing the voice of faculty, staff, students, post-docs and residents, led by a core advisory team consisting of Dr. Collins, Dr. Mok, Amy Tawney, and Andrea Marks. They have been working since December and will embark on a campus climate survey to gauge the pulse of the community.

In April 1963, in a letter from the Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." 

It is our mutuality and dependence upon each other combined with collegiality that creates the welcoming culture of respect at UT Health San Antonio. This culture, in turn, enables us to accomplish our mission to make lives better for each other and those we serve.

Chiquita A. Collins, Ph.D., M.A.

Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence and Health Equity

Jacqueline Mok, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs

Amy S. Tawney, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer

Andrea Marks, MBA, CPA

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

William L. Henrich, MD, MACP

President and Professor of Medicine

With permission from your medical director, UT Health Physicians staff are invited to have some fun with fashion every Friday this October.

Friday, Oct. 16: Spirit & Scrubs

Show your UT Health San Antonio spirit on Orange Out Friday. Wear a spirit week t-shirt with your blue scrub bottoms. Post your pride on social using #UTHealthSAPerformance.

Friday, Oct. 23: Fashion for a Cause

October is breast cancer awareness month. Wear a pink top or breast cancer support shirt with your blue scrub bottoms.

Friday, Oct. 30: Halloween Eve

Wear a pink/breast cancer awareness shirt. Or, wear your work-ready Halloween costume.

Keep these rules in mind:

- Employee ID must be worn

- Employee must be easily identifiable

- Wear approved masks only. Patient-facing staff must wear surgical masks.

- No scary or inappropriate costumes. It must be young-child friendly.

If you have any questions, please speak to your manager. Or, contact Casey Peterson.

Dear Faculty and Staff,

It’s been a little while since my last update.  That’s good news for it means we’ve had no new crises.  Let me start with a big THANK YOU as we continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder on the challenges imposed by this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  It’s certainly not over, yet we are beginning to see glimmers of hope on the horizon.  This is all due to your continued dedication to the mission of caring for our patients during these most trying times.  So again, thank you.

As we prepare for this next phase of this pandemic, school/university re-openings and high-volume rapid turnaround COVID tests are taking center stage.  Here are a few important updates:

A Note on Predicting the Next COVID Surge

Sg2 was quite helpful in predicting the last surge.  However, there are two new variables which impact this model (or any model for that matter) – uncertainties related to seroprevalence and the impact of school openings.

Nevertheless, Sg2 predicts if current mitigation levels of masking, distancing, and testing are maintained we can anticipate a steady rate of COVID hospitalizations during and after schools reopen this Fall.  However, during this time frame the citywide COVID census is not predicted to pose high stress levels on our health care system compared to the last surge.  This projection will be closely monitored and modified as more information becomes available.

What About the Flu?

The impact of influenza this winter is not clear, so we will be watching it closely.  We do anticipate some individuals will get co-infected with both COVID and influenza, in which case they will be at high risk for poor outcomes including death.  We strongly encourage everyone get a flu shot this Fall.  Information on vaccine administration at UTHP sites and Wellness 360 will be made available soon.  In the event you become ill, you should immediately contact your supervisor, stay home, call your PCP, and promptly obtain flu and COVID testing.  Again, we encourage everyone to maintain masking, distancing, and handwashing since these measures also reduce the likelihood of getting the flu (although they are not a substitute for getting the flu shot).

A Few Important Notes on COVID Testing

1. Reporting of Ambulatory Results

a. For tests ordered from UT Epic.  In order to improve turnaround times, COVID test results are now auto-released through MyChart at 24 hours (rather than manual release).  Likewise, UT lab personal are no longer calling positive results to ordering providers.  This will give the lab more time to focus on test throughput and turnaround times.

b. For tests ordered from UHS Epic or through the Standing Delegated Nursing Order at the Pavilion.  Results are routed to your UHS Epic in-basket.  Pre-procedure + COVID results will continue to be called to the ordering proceduralists.  If you are experiencing something different, please let me know.

2. If you work in the PCC, Geriatrics Clinic, or Mays Cancer Center (locations where frequent COVID testing is performed), COVID tests not only populate the ordering provider’s in-basket, but now also a clinic-specific COVID in-basket.  This gives on-call providers easy access to results afterhours.

3. Repeat COVID Testing is not indicated for Follow Up of Positive Pre-Procedure Tests.  Instead, we endorse a symptom-based strategy for moving forward with rescheduling the procedure (see first attachment for updated UT Health guidance).  This is consistent with the CDC guidelines and UHS Policy (see attachments two and three which have also recently been updated, OR click this link to access UHS COVID Clearinghouse).  Also, if a patient had a + COVID test done at an outside facility, it would be helpful for the patient to bring the official copy of the result so it can be uploaded into our EMR.  If we have such documentation, we will not require re-testing which the patient will appreciate.  One can only stand having a swab stuck up his or her nose so many times.

A Note on Clinic Costs and Scanning Notes 

Remember, clinics are charged a few cents for every page sent for scanning.  One way to keep clinic costs down is by minimizing scans.  Instead of sending the full hospitalization record for scanning (which may include blank pages, demographics, etc), consider just scanning the most relevant reports.  That’s not just good for business during these hard times, but it also prevents chart bloat which thereby allows important information to be found more readily.  Another option is for the clinic to do its own scanning.  Please speak to your Practice Manager for more details.  Sorry to end with something so mundane.

Please contact me for any questions.

Thank you for all you do.

B

Bob Leverence, MD, FACP

Chief Medical Officer

Download the flyer with guidelines here. 

Join us in support of American Heart Month by wearing a red shirt with scrub bottoms on National Wear Red Day: Friday, Feb. 5, to bring awareness to heart disease as a leading cause of death for Americans, especially women.

Guidelines for red shirts are as follows:

• No large brand names or logos allowed.
• No obscene words, gestures or symbols allowed.
• If an employee’s shirt is deemed inappropriate for the workplace, they will be sent home to change and vacation leave will be used to make up their time.

Employees are also encouraged to share photos in the their red shirts on social media by tagging @UTHealthSAphysicians on Facebook and using #WearRedDay #GoRedforWomen.

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Residents:

Yesterday afternoon we learned Texas will be lifting its state mask mandate as well as lifting business occupancy limits effective March 10.

Organizations, retailers, restaurants, sporting organizations, churches and schools are now interpreting what this means for their respective populations and how they will handle for their employees as well as their patrons. Approaches will vary and will differ city to city, place to place.

Our fight against COVID-19 at UT Health San Antonio will remain consistent. As essential workers who serve patients every day – many of whom are among the sickest in our community – we must always prioritize safety. We will continue with our current safety protocols and require masks on campus for employees, students and visitors. We will continue to require temperature screenings upon entry to campus buildings and maintain our disinfection protocols.

We serve as the region’s expert and advocate in how prevention strategies (masking, handwashing, personal distancing) have been most effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic is far from over and we should not let our guard down now. As a health institution that exists to care for and protect the health of our community, and train the next generation of health care workers, it is our responsibility to take actions that we know through science help reduce the spread of this disease.  

Spring break arrives next week and likely will include travel for an unvaccinated population. Easter is right around the corner, so please remain vigilant about personal prevention measures. We do not want a repeat of last year’s activities that amplified transmission. We must do everything we can to limit a resurgence of this virus that has killed more than 43,000 people in Texas so far.

UT Health San Antonio continues our vital work of vaccinating thousands of San Antonians each week to try to attain herd immunity levels: so far, we have given over 61,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine that are safe, effective and working. We are developing a mobile health unit to serve our hardest-to-reach community members. Experts at our university are studying viral variants and the rising prevalence of some strains. Infectious disease teams are rapidly preparing to study sequencing with detailed epidemiological analysis to investigate associated SARS-CoV-2 infections and inform infection control measures, as well as continually evaluate the immunity of COVID-19 and how long it may last.

Our faculty members continue to serve on citywide committees that advise city and county officials and will continue serving in those roles.

Let’s continue to do all we can together to defeat COVID-19. Encourage everyone to get a vaccine when able, wear your mask, maintain hand hygiene and keep a safe personal distance.

With respect and appreciation,

William L. Henrich, MD, MACP

President and Professor of Medicine

On April 13, 2021, the FDA and CDC recommended a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, sometimes referred to as the J&J or JNJ single-dose vaccine, following six reports (out of 6.8 million doses) of a very rare, but potentially dangerous, blood clotting problem. UT Health San Antonio has suspended use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as of April 13, 2021.

Please use these talking points if you receive questions about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine:

If you receive a question from a news reporter or any type of media:

• Provide them with UT Health San Antonio’s media team’s phone number: 210-567-2579.

If you receive a question about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from a patient or general public:

As of April 13, 2021 UT Health San Antonio is following the FDA and CDC recommendation to suspend the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

Why?

• The CDC and FDA are investigating reports of rare, but potentially dangerous, blood clots that may have been related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Additional details:

• None of the cases of blood clots reported at this time have occurred in Texas, where more than 500,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered.
• A total of 6.8 million doses given, the rare reports of blood clots have been by six women between the ages of 18 to 48 years old. The clots occurred six to 13 days after vaccination.

What should people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine do?

• Know that this type of clotting problem has a specific therapy when identified early.
• Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine less than two weeks ago should watch for easy bruising, gum bleeding, nose bleeds, swelling in your arms or legs, or tiny blood spots under the skin in areas away from the injection site. If you/they have one of those symptoms, you/they should see their doctor.
• More serious vaccine adverse reactions include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent severe abdominal pain, persistent headache or blurred vision. If you/they have any of these symptoms, you/they should go to the closest emergency department.

Which COVID-19 vaccine does UT Health San Antonio provide?

• UT Health San Antonio is a vaccination hub providing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. Our primary care locations may also offer the two-dose Moderna vaccine to eligible current patients during their appointment.

Where can I learn more?

• You can learn more on our website: UTHealthCare.org/COVID

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UT Health Physicians' Stars and Shields Awards recognize the practices, providers, clinical teams and staff who consistently go above and beyond to live out our promise to provide every patient with an exceptional patient experience. To recognize a UT Health Physicians coworker for their outstanding work in providing excellent, patient-centered care, nominate them to receive a Silver Star award at www.uthealthcare.org/stars.

UT Health Physicians employees are invited to celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing a green shirt with blue scrub bottoms on Wednesday, March 17. 

Please take note of the following participation guidelines:

• No large brand names or logos allowed.
• No obscene words, gestures or symbols allowed.
• If an employee's shirt is deemed inappropriate for the workplace, they will be sent home to change and vacation leave will be used to make up their time.

View and download the flyer here. 

"Sending you congratulations on your Saturday scheduled COVID injections for your patients. My husband and I were totally pleased and amazed with how the entire process was handled. Your staff was completely professional and organized. Our entire time from start to finish was 20 minutes, including our 15 minute observation time. Y'all rocked it!"

-Sandi

Just wanted to thank you for getting me my COVID vaccine shot today!  Also, I don't know who was responsible for organizing the MARC today for all of us getting our shots but he/she/they are to be congratulated!  It was a super good job of organizing EVERYTHING!  No waiting, nurses helping all along the way, everything going so smoothly.  A great job!"

-UT Health patient 

"Kathy and I were able to get our first COVID vaccines today. Just wanted to commend the organization and well-planned procedure. It could not have gone better."

-Bob

"Jan and I received our COVID shots yesterday, and I will report that it was the best run operation I have ever experienced. We arrived a half hour early because we thought the garage would be a disaster, the lines would be long and wait times would be frustrating. I could not have been more wrong. The staff was efficient, friendly, courteous and kind--though their feet HAD to hurt and the scope of the effort seemed overwhelming. I am beyond impressed. Kudos to the planning, staffing and execution of this daunting task. The MARC needs to explain to the feds how to run a perfect campaign."

-David

"I had my first COVID vaccine Saturday and I have to commend your team for an amazingly efficient operation. I walked in and out in less than 5 minutes, then just had to wait 15 minutes to monitor for side effects. For a task the scope of this endeavor, it’s a comfort to know the professionalism behind the planning and execution of this vital community undertaking. Congratulations to all involved."

-UT Health patient

"We have been absolutely enthralled with the unbelievable experience(s) we have encountered at the Shavano Clinic. First was our PCR test scheduling back in Oct./Nov. with super special handling and then when we returned from the Maldives just a few days ago and had another PCR test with results that evening and a vaccination the next day! The customer service, attention to detail and follow up (she called to see how we were feeling after the shot and how my foot—small problem—was doing) is over the top! Please, please, please give Maria a great big pat on the back and recognition for being simply the best!! You have an outstanding team and should be very proud of them."

-Peter & Susanne