With COVID-19 spreading quickly, widely and undetected throughout the YK Delta, in an effort to protect our staff, customers, and communities, YKHC is expanding mandatory, routine testing to all employees. While YKHC has been testing multiple patient care and public-facing departments routinely since spring and early summer, mandatory testing has been expanded to all departments.

The following information provides an overview of when and how frequently employees in the following departments will be required to test for COVID-19.

Please note

• Mandatory testing schedules will begin next week, November 30-December 4, which is being considered as the first week of the month.
• Mandatory testing applies to all employees currently teleworking, as employees may be recalled to work on-site if needed or work from the office from time to time.
• Testing reminders will not be automated. Managers and all staff will be accountable for ensuring a mandatory test is not missed.
• If an employee is out of the office using in-region PTO, they should get tested upon return to work the following week, then resume testing at regularly scheduled frequency. Staff traveling out-of-region, must continue to follow health protocols upon return as outlined in Policy Manager.

WEEKLY testing
Employees in the following departments will be tested WEEKLY, on a day chosen by their manager.

In areas with appropriate testing space (such as an AIIR room or use of the ambulance bay), self-swabbing may be performed. This will help accommodate staff who work shifts. How to submit self-swabs for processing: Swabs need to be taken to the drop box located on the third floor by the back elevators. CHAP should send in their tests with their other patient testing.

• Community Health Aide Program (Based in villages)
• Dental Services
• Emergency Department
  • SART
• Emergency Services
• Employee Health
  • Nurse Education
• Infection Control
• Inpatient Adult/Pediatrics
  • Behavioral Health Beds
  • Nutritional Therapy
• Obstetrics
• Respiratory Therapy
• Surgery (CSR/OR)
  • Central Supply
• YK Elders Home

TWICE A MONTH testing
Employees in the following departments will be tested the 2nd and 4th week of the month, at the Bethel drive-thru testing tent, on Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Capital Projects
• Community Health Aide Program (Based in Bethel)
• Construction
• Dietary Services
• Environmental Services
• Health Aide Training
• Pre-maternal Home
• Security

Employees in the following departments will be tested by self-swab the 2nd and 4th week of every month. Managers will be responsible for turning the tests in.

In areas with appropriate testing space (such as an AIIR room or use of the ambulance bay), self-swabbing may be performed. This will help accommodate staff who work shifts. How to submit self-swabs for processing: Swabs need to be taken to the drop box located on the third floor by the back elevators. Sub-Regional Clinics will send in their tests with their other patient testing. 

• Audiology
• Imaging
• IMPACT
• Laboratory
• Optometry Services
• Pharmacy Services
• Physical Therapy
• Primary Care/Outpatient Services
• Social Services
• Specialty Clinic
• Sub-Regional Clinics
• Women’s Health

MONTHLY testing
Employees in the following departments will be tested on the 1st week of each month, at the Bethel drive-thru testing tent, on Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Accounting
• Administration
• Auto Repair
• Behavioral Health Services
  • Administration: Will test at the testing tent.
  • Residential Services: Coordination with the BH nurse will occur to ensure testing occurs.
• Biomed
• CISM
• Community Health & Wellness
• Construction Finance
• Corporate facilities
• Developmental Disability Services
• Finance Operations
• General Counsel
• Hospital Maintenance
• Housing
• Human Resources
• Human Studies
• Internal Audit
• Materials Management
• Motor Pool
• Office of Environmental Health and Engineering
• Performance Improvement
• Preventative Services
• Privacy
• Public Relations/Government Relations
• Revenue Management
• Risk Management/QI
• Travel & Medicaid Services
• Technology/CIO 

Questions? 
Employees, please speak with your manager.

Managers, have additional questions about accommodating employee shifts not noted above? Contact YKHC Infection Control Nurse Lori Chikoyak.