For Medical Professionals

Infectious Disease Resource

Dr. Keith Collins, Infectious Disease, is available for questions, please page him at (518) 574-5609. Dr. Lisa Mark, General Surgery, Chief Medical Officer for Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH is available at LMark@cvph.org.  Dr. Todd Whitman, Oncology, Assistant Chief Medical Officer for Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH is available by phone at (518) 645-6588 or by email at TWhitman@cvph.org.

PLATTSBURGH, NY (01/12/2020) - The three University of Vermont Health Network New York hospitals continue to focus on the vaccination of front line health care workers and community health care partners as outlined in the New York State (NYS) Vaccine Administration Plan and will not, at this time, be offering the vaccine to New Yorkers in Tier 1b of that plan: those 75 and older, correction officers, teachers and other essential workers. 

However, according to CVPH Vice President of Population Health and Information Services Wouter Rietsema, MD, should the supply of vaccine increase, we will move to Tier 1b. “For now, hospitals must prioritize unvaccinated health care workers from the 1A group,” he explained. Rietsema serves as coordinator for the NYS designated Northern New York Regional Vaccination Hub, supporting seven counties in their community vaccination initiatives. 

The state has created two resources for people seeking information on vaccine eligibility and appointments.  The “Am I Eligible App” (https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/) can help determine eligibility and find a list of providers where appointments can be made and a Vaccination Hotline, 1 (833) 697-4829 can also be used.

In an announcement about expanding the plan to include this new group, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo asked all New Yorkers to be patient as the supply of vaccine is limited nationally.  There are currently 4 million eligible New Yorkers in this new priority group, according to Governor Cuomo, and the state receives on average 300,000 doses each week. Those who secure an appointment to be vaccinated via the app or hotline should expect a date as far as 14-weeks in the future.

Since late December of 2020, Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, CVPH in Plattsburgh and Elizabethtown Community Hospital in Elizabethtown have been engaged in vaccinating their teams and other health care partners as directed by the state.

Residents and staff at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities continue to be vaccinated through a federal program, which the state is providing resources to accelerate.

“It’s wonderful that so many want to be vaccinated – it is an important step in putting this pandemic behind us. In the meantime, patience is required,” explained Rietsema who added, “It continues to be vital that everyone continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing, avoid gatherings, practice hand hygiene and stay home if you are ill. We know what works in slowing the spread of the disease. It’s important that we continue doing all of those things.”

Guidance for Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers Staff for COVID-19 Vaccination

NYS Covid-19 Vaccination Program

Pfizer-BioNTech Fact Sheet

Moderna-Fact Sheet

North Country Regional Hub

• CVPH is one of 10 Regional Hubs designated by the state to support county health departments as they “stand up” vaccination plans that meet the needs of their specific communities.
• Our role is to serve as a behind-the-scenes support for 7 counties to be sure the vaccine, when available, is distributed to essential workers and designated high risk members of the public.
• The distribution must be efficient and equitable – with special attention paid to minority communities.
• As a hub, CVPH will not vaccinate the public and will not distribute vaccine.
• Our hub designation is separate from the ongoing vaccination program of our hospital staff and other state-designated facilities and agencies.

If you have pediatric patients that need a urology referral and would like to keep them on this side of the lake for care, Dr. Riddle is here every other Thursday.   (P) 518-314-3900.

Reminder: Testing Site Relocated to the Wellness Center

The new location at 295 New York Road. The new location will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The tests will be done indoors. There will be two separate entrances, one for asymptomatic clients and another for those with COVID-like symptoms.

You can also send questions to CoronavirusUpdate@cvph.org.

Visitation Policy Changes Across the Network

Effective this evening, we are returning to restricting visitation in our facility. This is a UVMHN policy necessitated by the continuing increase in Covid-19 cases in our respective communities. This will look a lot like the restrictions that were in place by Executive order of Governor Cuomo in the spring, but with some differences. below are key points you need to know:

• Routine in person visitation/accompaniment of patients in the acute environment, the ED and the outpatient arenas is no longer permitted.
• Essential support persons whose presence is necessary to the care team to provide care are permitted as before.
• In addition to situations of imminent death, in-person meetings to facilitate a transition to comfort care or hospice will be permitted in collaboration with unit leadership or the palliative care team.
• Visitation on Labor and delivery does not change. Visitation on inpatient psychiatry units will now be prohibited.
• For pediatric patients in the ED and outpatient clinics, one designated parent/guardian is permitted and remains the same throughout entire visit. For rare inpatients in pediatrics, two support persons may be designated, but only one may visit at a time.
• Outpatients may have a support person to improve access to care (translation, disability) or in very specific clinical situations related to terminal illness and end of life.

CVPH is requiring patients to get their pre-op COVID-19 test done 5 days in advance of their scheduled elective procedure.

Please see the attached document for further instructions for patients regarding COVID-19 pre-procedure testing. We recognize that the cyberattack on the University of Vermont Health Network is impacting much of the information you need to access. Thank you for your patience.

Please understand that this is a fluid situation that may require more changes as we continue through this process to determine the best course of action for community members requiring COVID-19 testing.

https://www.cvph.org/Patients-and-Visitors/Patients/Diagnostic-Services-Available

Anytime please reference our “For Medical Professionals Page” for relevant clinical updates UVMHealth.org/MedProNNY. Or Becky Larkin at rlarkin@CVPH.org (518-314-3585)

For diagnostic cards, with instructions on calling Central Scheduling, please email me at rlarkin@cvph.org.  I am happy to drop them off at your office.  These wallet cards are helpful for patients.

To access diagnostic grid please go to https://www.cvph.org/Patients-and-Visitors/Patients/Diagnostic-Services-Available If you are sending a patient for a COVID-19 test, please call CVPH Patient Registration at (518) 562-7091 and then fax the order to 518-314-3980.

An experienced RN Case Manager is on call to answer the hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This facilitates getting the patient to the right bed, in the right facility, and will improve communication and efficiency. Referring physicians are linked to receiving physicians on a recorded line to ensure real-time capture of vital information

COVID-19 NYS Hotline

• The New York State Department of Health has established a toll-free Novel Coronavirus Hotline.  Call 888-364-3065.

Contact Us

Please reach Becky Larkin at RLarkin@cvph.org with feedback, questions or concerns.