News & Media
The Delta Variant: A Message from Dr. Keith Moss, Chief Medical Officer
To: All Staff
From: Keith Moss, MD, CMO/CMIO
Subject: COVID Delta Variant
I want to discuss with all of you some disturbing information about COVID and the delta variant, which has become the dominant variant in the United States.
There are two primary reasons for our concern.
First, this variant is much more contagious. When we were dealing with the original COVID strain, one person could transmit the virus to three people on average. With this variant, one person generally spreads the virus to 10 people. That means the virus spreads much faster, and to many more people than ever before.
The second major concern is that this variant is affecting younger people–causing far more severe disease, hospitalizations, and deaths in younger age groups. This is what we are seeing in the Springfield Missouri area currently.
Today, we are seeing a significant increase in infections from the delta variant in Iroquois County. This is hitting close to home and current projections from Mayo Clinic suggest that a surge in cases will hit Kankakee County starting in two weeks.
This creates a call to action. Get vaccinated!
We know that 99.5% of people dying from COVID right now are unvaccinated. And we also know that even with the delta variant our current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are over 90% effective in preventing serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Don’t be the one who regrets not getting vaccinated. Do this for yourself, your family, your friends, and those you serve.
Request your vaccine today or ask questions by emailing [email protected]. Please include your name and preferred phone number in your email.
Resources for more information about the delta variant:
Stericycle Coming Soon
Riverside Healthcare is implementing a new pharmaceutical/infectious waste and sharps management program. We are changing vendors from Daniels to Stericycle for increased safety, environmental benefits, and financial value. They will take care of our non-hazardous infectious waste, RCRA hazardous waste, controlled substance waste, and sharps waste. Starting July 20, you may see Stericycle staff in your location changing out sharps and waste containers. They will also have people rounding to train staff on any changes, to make the transition as seamless as possible. They will be starting at the hospital campus and oncology locations before moving to other areas.
Look for posters and training in Olie to come!
Riverside announces Kirk Larson as Chief Information Officer
KANKAKEE, IL (July 8, 2021) – Riverside Healthcare is pleased to announce the appointment of Kirk B. Larson to the position of Vice President & Chief Information Officer. Larson assumed this role as of June 1, 2021.
In this role, he will provide strategic leadership and oversight to Riverside Healthcare’s information technology function. Larson will be instrumental in helping to establish digital strategies and coordinating their implementation among other IT/IS operational duties for Riverside.
The Director of Information Security, Technology and Clinical Engineering and the Director of Information Services & Epic will report directly to Larson.
Most recently, Larson was employed at Rochester Regional Health as the Chief Information Officer of their subsidiary ACM Global Laboratories and earlier as their Associate Chief Information Officer of the health system. He has also served as the Healthcare CIO for NetApp Inc. and CIO of Valley Children’s Healthcare and Natividad Medical Center.
Larson holds dual Masters’ degrees in Health Services Administration and Business Administration, both from the University of Michigan. In addition, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from North Central College in Naperville.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and volunteers his time as a member of the North Park University School of Business and Nonprofit Management Advisory Council.
Originally a native of the Midwest, he and his family look forward to settling back in the area.
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