Winter Occupational Medicine Newsletter
February 2, 2021
Atascadero
Pismo Beach


Santa Maria
Dignity Health Pacific Central Coast Health Centers
invite you to a Virtual COVID-19 Vaccine Discussion

Community members are invited to a virtual COVID-19 Vaccine Discussion. Our local providers and experts will be addressing questions and concerns.
Date: February 3, 2021 Time: 6:00PM to 8:00PM
Location: Zoom

To RSVP or to submit your questions ahead of time please use this link: https://bit.ly/3nyJN4x.

Due to the number of participants on this call, questions will be accepted via chat during the Zoom meeting. This event will be recorded for those unable to attend. We encourage you to RSVP ahead of time so help us determine the length of the meeting.
COVID-19 News
Myths About COVID-19 Vaccination

As COVID-19 vaccinations become increasingly available to the general public, don't forget to get your vaccinations and to encourage your employees to do the same.
COVID-19 Vaccine Myths

Myth:I had COVID-19 so I don’t need the vaccine.
There are severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and re-infection is possible. The vaccine offers additional benefit and the CDC recommends that you get the vaccine even if you have had a COVID-19 infection.

Myth: I have a high COVID-19 antibody count. I don’t need the vaccine.
At this time, experts do not known how long natural immunity lasts after recovering from COVID-19. The vaccine offers additional benefit and the CDC recommends that you get the vaccine even if you have had a COVID-19 infection.

Myth: I can get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot give you COVID-19. Myth: I will be protected against COVID-19 after the first dose, and I don’t need a second dose. It’s important to get the second dose in order to get the most protection the vaccine can offer. You won’t get the full duration of protection from the vaccines until one to two weeks after the second dose.

Myth: The vaccine isn’t safe.
COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large clinical trials with a diverse group of individuals to make sure they meet safety standards. There were no significant safety concerns identified. We will not administer a COVID-19 vaccine unless the FDA has determined it is safe and effective.
Dignity Health Public Service Announcements about COVID-19 Vaccine in English,Spanish and Mixteco
English
Scott Robertson, MD English COVID-19 Vaccine PSA

Spanish
Melvin Lopez, MD Spanish COVID-19 Vaccine PSA

Mixteco
Melvin Lopez, MD Spanish COVID-19 Vaccine PSA

More Mixteco resources:
Did You Know?

OSHA issued new public service announcements in English and Spanish to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace and keep workers safe.
What Keeps Workers Safe from COVID-19?
12/21/20

Workplaces address COVID-19 infection risks by highlighting the hazards and implementing a hierarchy of controls. Observing
the strategies and tactics workplaces are actually using can provide valuable insights and examples.

Science informs workplace safety and health. Proven measures in the fight against COVID-19 include:
  • physical distancing,
  • frequent hand washing,
  • not touching your face,
  • wearing a mask,
  • avoiding crowds, and
  • sticking to your immediate “bubble”.
The point of these measures is to keep concentrations of virus out of your airways where the disease takes hold.

Everyone wants this COVID-19 infection threat to go away. Until this hazard is eliminated, employers are required (by occupational safety and health authorities, public health orders, and the moral imperative) to protect workers and other persons
in the workplace. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, that means active measures to eliminate the workplace hazard or
mitigate exposure and infection risk.
OSHA COVID-19 Resources for Healthcare Workers
OSHA has resources to help protect nurses, doctors, dentists, and other workers in the healthcare industry from exposure to the virus.
Alerts
Posters
Other Guidance
Enforcement Memoranda
For more information regarding COVID-19 vaccination, please contact RecoverSLO.org or Countyofsb.org.
General
COVID-19 Resources
We know that keeping you and your employees safe is a top priority so Dignity Health Urgent Care encourages you to turn to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the most updated resources regarding COVID-19 at the workplace. Dignity Health also offers a COVID-19 information line.

Dignity Health COVID-19 Information line

(805) 332-8276 English
(805) 614-5758 Spanish

Visit your county websites:
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit www.dignityhealth.org/phc.
Special Focus: Valley Fever

Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis) Statistics

by CDC.gov, October 2020

How Common is Valley Fever?

In 2018, there were 15,611 cases of Valley fever reported to CDC. Most of these cases were in people who live in Arizona or California. Rates of Valley Fever are typically highest among people age 60 and older.

The number of Valley Fever cases reported to CDC likely underestimates the true number of Valley Fever cases. Tens of thousands more illnesses likely occur and may be misdiagnosed because many patients are not tested for Valley Fever.
Valley Fever Still Making California Workers Sick

People who work outdoors, especially workers who dig or disturb soil, are at risk of becoming sick with Valley fever, a potentially severe illness caused by a fungus found in the soil in parts of California.
California continues to see an increase in cases of Valley fever. To address this ongoing concern, the California Department of Public Health conducted a statewide public awareness campaign, with special focus in the Central Valley and Central Coast, where Valley fever rates are the highest.
The campaign created posters and factsheets workers and employers can use to spread the word and to combat this unexpected ‘visitor’ on the jobsite.

Visit Preventing Work-Related Valley Fever to download the new materials.
October and November was a busy time for Dignity Health Urgent Care Centers to vaccinate against the Flu. Our providers vaccinated approximately 1500 community members and 600 employees from our Occupational Medicine employer groups with Flu shots at no cost. Next Fall, Dignity Health Urgent Care Centers will reach out to more employers to help provide vaccinations. Look for a message this summer to sign-up and secure vaccinations for your employees at all six or our urgent care locations in Solvang, Lompoc, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Pismo Beach and Atascadero.
Winter Updates from Dr. Vasak
by Lisa Vasak, MD
Dignity Health Urgent Care- Atascadero

Happy New Year! 2021 is finally here and it couldn’t have come soon enough. Holiday decorations have been put away and there is high anticipation of an improved year compared to 2020. The weather continues to be mild which is great for outdoor, socially distanced events. Unfortunately, the Tamale Festival in Atascadero has been postponed to later in 2021. 

Some good news - the vaccine for COVID-19 has been rolled out to first responders and health care workers. It looks promising that soon those who are 65 and older may be able to get the shot as well. I know that we are all very tired of staying home, social distancing and wearing masks but we know it is what we need to do to get through this pandemic even if it is inconvenient. The vaccines will speed up the end of the pandemic so when it is your time to get vaccinated I hope you will.

One New Year’s Resolution to consider for all of us should be to continue doing everything we can to protect our first responders, health care workers, family and friends from COVID-19. Keep wearing your masks and I encourage you all to get vaccinated when you get the opportunity. 
Want to meet with our providers to discuss your business needs? Sign up here for a virtual meeting with Dr. Pomerantz or Dr. Vasak.
Services at a Glance
Employment Examinations: 
Physicals including DOT/DMV, Fitness for Duty Exams
Respirator Exams:
Respirator and mask fit, currently subject to availability of supplies due to COVID-19
Drug Screening:
Pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post accident, random, E-screen 5 and 10 panel
Breath Alcohol Testing:
Pre, post, random or cause
Vaccinations:
Hep A, Hep B, Flu, Tetanus,T-dap, Rabies
Testing Services:
Pulmonary function, audio, vision, grip, TB tests
Work Injuries:
Back and neck injuries, lacerations and burns, eye injuries, extremity injuries, all minor trauma
Advanced ergonomics: on-site available
Meet Our Providers
Mark Pomerantz, MD
Dignity Health Urgent Care, Santa Maria
Dr. Pomerantz has been practicing medicine for more than 35 years in the Santa Maria community. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the USC School of Medicine. He has experience in Occupational Medicine and Workers Compensation cases.
Lisa Vasak, MD
Dignity Health Urgent Care, Atascadero
Dr. Vasak has been practicing medicine for more than 25 years in California and on the Central Coast since 2013. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and earned her Doctor of Medicine from New York Medical College. She specializes in Urgent Care, and has experience in the areas of Occupational Medicine and Workers Compensation cases.
Guy Zimbardi, MD
Dignity Health Urgent Care,
Pismo Beach and Santa Maria
Dr. Zimbardi has been practicing medicine for more than 23 years in both New York City and Southern California. He is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine, earning his Doctor of Medicine from Boston University and his Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh.

5920 West Mall, Atascadero 805-461-2131
877 Oak Park Blvd, Pismo Beach 805-474-8450
2271 South Depot Street, Santa Maria 805-614-9000