LVMC Community Update, October 30, 2020

Dear Lompoc Valley Community:

What happened on this date in history?

1941 - After nearly 15 years of work, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota was completed. The colossal sculpture features the heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
1974 – Muhammad Ali regained the heavyweight title by knocking out George Foreman in the eighth round during the fight billed as the "Rumble in the Jungle.” (It would be ironic if he knocked out George Foreman by punching him in the “grill.”)
2003 – basketball player LeBron James, who was drafted directly out of high school, made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

COVID-19 Information

• Active Covid Cases. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reports that as of October 29, there are 138 active Covid cases in the County. That equates to 1 currently Covid positive individual per 3,007 population.
• Total Covid Cases. There has been a total of 9,919 Covid positive cases in the County since the beginning of the pandemic. That equates to 1 Covid positive individual per 42 population. It also means that 1.4% of those who have contracted Covid are considered to be still Covid positive.
• Mortality (Deaths). There have been 128 Covid related deaths in Santa Barbara County. That equates to 1 death per 3,242 population. Of the 128 deaths, 8 have been residents of the Lompoc Valley. By comparison, 13 have been residents of Santa Barbara, and 70 have been residents of Santa Maria.
• Positivity Rate. The Positivity Rate for Santa Barbara County is currently at 2%. Again, this means that of the Covid tests performed, 2% come back positive for Covid. This is the lowest rate since near the beginning of the pandemic. The Positivity Rate in the County had an initial peak of approximately 15% in late March. Then, after decreasing to just over 2%, it had a second peak of approximately 8% in mid-July. Since then, the Positivity Rate has shown a consistent downward trend up to the present.
• Covid Positive Hospitalized Patients. Comparing the number of hospitalized patients relative to population and historical trends is, in my opinion, the best indicator of the status of Covid in any geographic area. The number of patients hospitalized at hospitals in Santa Barbara County remains low. There have been significant decreases in all areas of the County. North County started from a higher baseline, so even with significant decreases over the past several weeks, that area still has the most hospitalized patients. South County has a remarkably low number of hospitalized Covid patients; there have been 0 hospitalized patients on several recent days. As of today, there are 9 hospitalized patients at hospitals within Santa Barbara County (the first single-digit day that I can recall). Of the 9, there is 1 Covid positive patient at LVMC.

Comprehensive Care Center

I am pleased to report that the Comprehensive Care Center (“CCC”) has once again retained its 5-Star Quality Rating for the 3rd Quarter of 2020. The Star Rating System is administered by the Federal Government, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The ratings are based upon a combination of Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures. The CCC has received a 5-Star Rating (the highest rating) for each quarter of 2020.

The CCC has amended its visitation procedures. Previously, CCC residents could only have a “window visit,” while communicating via telephone. Now, residents may make a reservation to have an in-person visit, which would take place in the Activity Area. Visits are limited to 20 minutes and must be with one person at a time. Strict infection prevention measures remain in place.

The CCC currently does not have any Covid positive residents. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the CCC has had only one Covid positive resident, and that resident did not contract the virus at the CCC.

LVMC Nursing Service

LVMC has begun the process of pursuing Center of Excellence in Nursing Services designation from CIHQ (Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality). In addition to administering Center of Excellence designation programs, CIHQ is delegated by the Federal Government to perform hospital accreditation on behalf of CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).

The CIHQ Center of Excellence in Nursing Services program recognizes hospitals that demonstrate compliance to standards designed to assure desired outcomes in the safety and quality of nursing care rendered to patients. These standards have been established by: Centers for Medicare Services; Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality; Institute for Healthcare Improvement; National Institutes of Health; National Quality Forum; National Healthcare Safety Network; and American Nurses Association.

It is anticipated that the LVMC on-site survey for Center of Excellence in Nursing Services designation will occur in eight to twelve months from now. More to come.

Donations

A huge thank you to the following businesses and individuals who have made donations of Personal Protective Equipment and supplies, food for our healthcare workers, and other acts of kindness. You are all very much appreciated!! Dr. Connie Chan; Vandenberg Village Lions; Direct Relief; Albertson’s Store #3171--and those individuals who participated with Albertson’s; Northrop Grumman; Southwest Carpenters Union; INTO THE AM CLOTHING LLC-Matt Marchione; Kathy Milham; Kimberly Todd; Vons Market; Celeste Dugré; Subway; Sleep Center; Doreen Ross; Lompoc Pizza Hut; Superior Home Health; Miguelito Elementary School; Cajun Kitchen; La Purisima Mission Mask Makers; Advanced Performance Physical Therapy; SONOS; Pickle & Peanut Restaurants Inc.; Jordano’s; Lompoc Little Caesar’s Pizza; Victoria Perez; Diana Coronado; Firework Foundation; The Daily Grind; Industrial Eats; Vivid Financial Management; Christine Collier; David Carey DDS; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Sue McIntyre; McDonalds; Hilton Garden Inn; Anita Macias; a collaboration of 18 wineries--Alma Rosa, Ampelos, Chanin, Fiddlehead, Flying Goat, Garcia, Kings Carey, Kita, Longoria, Loring, Pali, Piedrasassi, Sandhi, Santa Barbara Winery, Sea Smoke, Sweetzer, Temperance and Transcendence; CoastHills Credit Union; CenCal Health; Dunn School; American Host; Kateri and Chris Kingsley; Katherine Milham; Sweet Bliss Sugar Scrubs and Co.; Carol Kirkland; Dr. Iris Radler; Donna Bommersbach; Patricia Henry; Nancy Manes; Annamie Lafferty; Marilyn Romine; Courtney & Mitch Barnham; Ida Kreds; Ingrid Kaper; Judy Carpenter; Space X; Lompoc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Santa Barbara Foundation; Lompoc Hospital District Foundation; Lompoc Unified School District; Lompoc YMCA; Floriano’s Mexican Food; Circle K; Keller Williams Realty of Lompoc; Girl Scouts of Lompoc; Arbonne independent distributors; Orcutt Bakery; Northrop Grumman; L3Harris Technologies; Astrotech Corp.; Harbor Freight; Home Depot; Direct Relief; Heath Dental; CHC Dental; Mikowicz Dental; Kimberly Nails; Not Alone Plumbing; Artisan Uprising Winery/Azeo Distillery; Starbuck’s Store 496; Tom’s Burgers; Super Grill; Sign Gypsies Central Coast.

Thank you, Lompoc Valley Community, for your tremendous support of LVMC and our healthcare workers; it means a lot to all of us!

As always, please feel free to contact me at popkins@lompocvmc.com or (805) 737-3301. Until next time, be well and stay safe!

Steve Popkin

Chief Executive Officer