As Infection Prevention Program Manager at Porter Adventist Hospital, Danielle Hessong holds herself to a high standard when it comes to infection

Across our connected ecosystem, we each have a unique voice and story about why we received the COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to share your “why.”

prevention and protecting the health of others. Recently, she shared the many reasons she chose to get vaccinated.  

Danielle became engaged in May. Rather than worrying about spreading coronavirus at her 2022 summer wedding the availability of COVID-19 vaccines will help to ensure every guest feels safe to attend.  

Prior to her wedding, she and her fiancé plan to host an engagement party. The couple made the difficult decision to ask that all guests be vaccinated to attend.  

“We didn’t make the decision to put pressure on those who aren’t vaccinated,” explained Danielle. “Instead, having everyone present vaccinated will allow us to not have to worry about masking or spreading COVID-19.”

Being fully vaccinated has also allowed Danielle to return to enjoying her love of live music. An avid concert goer, in a typical summer Danielle attends concerts at Red Rocks once a week.  

Being fully vaccinated has also given her peace of mind, especially when she spends time with her 78-year-old father.

“It’s been great to see my family again and to hug my dad without worrying I’ll put him in the hospital,” Danielle said.

Danielle also loves hiking and is excited to return to the trails.

“Last year during the pandemic I saw the damage that was being done to the trails because of the need to social distance,” Danielle said. “I’m looking forward to less social distancing and fear of spreading the virus when out hiking.”

If you’re undecided as to whether to get vaccinated, Danielle encourages you to research your options. There are many good resources available to help you navigate the complexity of the vaccines.

“Because of my role, I’m often asked whether or not someone should get the COVID-19 vaccine,” Danielle explained. “I want people to know that it’s smart to question. I encourage people who are hesitant to get the vaccine to dig in, do some research, and ask experts they know for advice. Investigating the vaccines as much as possible and understanding the science behind them will help people make an educated decision.”

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“I’m an avid hiker; I’ve climbed fourteen 14'ers; I was an athlete,” says 32-year-old Jenna Bruce of Colorado Springs.

In March 2020, COVID-19 turned her life upside down. More than a year later, she was struggling to recover.

“There’s not one day that it doesn’t impact me. I’ve had 54 different symptoms in the last year from my head to my toes.”

Her symptoms weren’t severe enough to need a hospital, but they were debilitating and life-changing for this young mother.

“I have not been able to breathe out of the right side of my nose and my vision is so much worse,” Jenna said. “My brain fog – some days I can’t remember the words to the song I sing to my daughter every single night. I can’t believe I’m at a year with this. It’s shocking to me.”

Jenna is hardly alone. Well over a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with progress seemingly everywhere from vaccines to falling case numbers, thousands of patients continue to struggle with what has become known as “Long-Haul COVID-19” or “Long-Haul Syndrome.” Months after they first got sick, their symptoms haven’t gone away or leave only to soon return.

Knowing there are many others like Jenna who are seeking answers, Centura Health assembled a group of physicians to discuss this phenomenon as part of our mission to nurture the health of the people in our communities.

In the video presentation below, these physicians explain the guidance they give to patients, what is known about so-called “long haulers,” and what the medical and scientific communities are still working to learn. We recommend launching the video using the Google Chrome browser.

“A lot of the advice I’m giving to my patients is supportive care, to let themselves recover at their own pace,” said Dr. Kari Uusinarkaus, family physician at Centura’s CHPG Primary Care Broadmoor. “I tell them to take breaks, when they go back to work they may need breaks. Nutrition, adequate sleep and hydration are all important components.”

For many, mental health is also a big concern. Jenna said she has struggled with anxiety and depression for the first time in her life, which she says is even more difficult since she is a trained resilience coach.

“It’s important they realize they’re not alone, and that their frustration is common because they can look good but still feel very sad and depressed,” said Dr. Diane Thompson, a Centura Health psychiatrist. Having a support system “is incredibly important for everyone, especially during the pandemic.”

Physically, symptoms can vary widely but often include fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, insomnia, muscle aches, and many more.

For patients experiencing respiratory symptoms, “We would like them to keep themselves active but also listen to their body,” pulmonologist Dr. Dheeraj Dhotre said. “If they keep getting worse in spite of giving it time, and if they notice they have low oxygen, they should seek medical attention from a primary care physician.”

Regarding neurological symptoms like brain fog, Dr. Wesley Reynolds said they are providing some clues. “While we don’t quite know what’s causing the symptoms, there’s probably been some type of mild brain injury from the virus. Whether that’s reversible or not is too early to tell, but we hope that it is, and we hope that in time, the brain will start to heal itself from that injury.”

Jenna recently shared good news about her recovery. She has been feeling much better after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as well as treatment for conditions including inflamed blood vessels.

Several research studies are also currently underway in hopes of better treating long-hauler patients in the future.

“There’s always hope, and sometimes hope changes over time,” Dr. Thompson said. “We want to encourage our patients to keep trying but also be gentle with themselves as they’re healing from this very difficult virus.”

You can search for a health care provider anytime here on our website, and we encourage members of our communities in Colorado and western Kansas to sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Information Technology (IT) launched the Workspace ONE (WS1) portal across our connected ecosystem in June. WS1 is the new location for applications found historically at the nsg.centura.org (NSG) domain used by many of our associates and providers as well as many of the links currently found on My Virtual Workplace (MVW). Please be aware that the nsg.centura.org domain will be decommissioned. Though MVW is not being replaced at this time, changes to the platform may result in more clicks than usual to launch an app.

Going forward, associates and providers will need to install the Horizon Client App on your device to fully use WS1 and launch apps. To activate this installation, you will need to have administrator permission on your device. The Horizon Client App has already been installed on all Centura owned computers.  

Visit this site to download and install the Horizon Client App. To install simply choose your device and install.  

We recommend you bookmark this link to WS1 and begin using it immediately.

Centura is always looking for ways to improve access to important tools and resources to help you deliver whole person care. We look forward to sharing this new user-friendly platform with you.  

Questions?

• For technical assistance, please call the Service Center at 303-643-4200, option 6.
• Detailed instructions for installing the Horizon Client app can be found here.
• Information about navigating WS1 can be found here.  
• Please contact your clinical trainer or the Service Center for direct support.
• Please contact Shawn Ouellet, WS1 Project Manager, for any further questions.

Transform your document and signature workflows with greater speed, efficiency, compliance, and security by using Adobe Sign. Adobe Sign speeds up processes in departments such as patient access, credentialing, pharmacy, marketing, IT, HR, finance, procurement and more. With Adobe Sign our patients and associates can complete online applications from any device, quickly process forms, and collect signatures all while complying with regulations and more.

We are excited to offer Adobe Sign to all Centura Health associates for free. To learn more about Adobe Sign and its many uses, visit the following links:

• Learn more about e-signatures
• Learn about Adobe Sign in Health care
• Adobe Sign how to

• Getting Started with Adobe Sign – New Users
• Live Integration Training Sessions

• General Adobe Sign questions should be directed to Adobe Sign at 1-866-318-4100 or Megan Warren at MWarren@Adobe.com.
• Centura related questions should be directed to Robin Lane, Director of Physician Contracting, CHPG Physician Alignment Group, at RobinLane@Centura.Org.
• Adobe Sign billing and customer service issues should be directed to Ahmed Zahidi, Senior Category Analyst, Supply Chain, at AhmedZahidi@centura.Org

In order to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC), we are required to use 10-digit dialing for all EXTERNAL phone calls in the following impacted locations:

• Colorado: 970 and 719 area codes must begin using 10-digit dialing
• Kansas: 620 area code must begin using 10-digit dialing
• New Mexico: 505 area code must begin using 10-digit dialing

• Fax machines
• Elevator auto dialers
• Telephones
• Modems
• HVAC
• Security equipment
• Email signature contact information

Are you at risk for diabetes? Early treatment as well as moderate lifestyle changes can actually return blood sugar levels to a normal range, effectively preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes. A new pilot Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), offered exclusively to Centura associates, can help you get started on the path to a healthier life. Space is limited, so sign up today!

This diabetes prevention lifestyle change program is offered at no cost to you! You’ll be guided by a lifestyle coach trained to use a CDC-approved curriculum. This pilot session will begin Aug. 18 and runs through February 2022.

Requirements include:

• Commitment to tracking your food and exercise.
• Attendance in a virtual class, held weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m.

WEBINAR: Learn more about the NEW mobile app for EAP and Work/Life Services Introducing Life Expert Work/Life Services and MyLifeExpert Mobile App Tuesday, July 27 12:00-12:45 MT Navigating the practical challenges of life, while handling the demands of your job can be stressful and finding the right work/life balance is key to living a happier healthier life. Join us to learn about our new work/life balance services and EAP app available for you and your family. To register for the webinar, click here.

To better support you and members of your household with resources for your work/life needs, on Aug. 1 our Employee Assistance program (Profile EAP) will transition to a new work/life partner, LifeExpert. LifeExpert will be fully integrated with Profile EAP providing easier access to work/life services and offering convenient 24/7 support.

LifeExpert’s interactive and responsive web app, MyLifeExpert.com, delivers behavioral health and work/life topics on one integrated platform. The app contains a wealth of information including articles, videos, podcasts, calculators and webinars. Topics include family and education, health and wellness, financial and legal, career, everyday living and more. The app contains health and lifestyle assessments designed to provide you with a quick assessment on finanical, health and addiction issues and provides targeted resources and information based on results. Associates will have instant access to more than a million providers focused on childcare, education, aging, medical and health and more.

In addition, associates will be able to access instant, confidential 24/7 support by phone, live chat, video and Joy, a virtual assistant. Joy can assist you in scheduling support for counseling or work/life issues from EAP and gives you the option to receive responses by phone, chat or video.  

Additional services available include:

• Legal and financial consultation, connecting you with experienced, vetted attorneys and financial counselors.
• Time-saving personalized services to help you research options for travel, entertainment, childcare, and more.
• Wellness coaching helps you with your personal wellness goals.