Contra Costa Well being (CCH) is refocusing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic on eliminating preventable deaths within the county.
The Path to Zero initiative consists of methods to make use of extra underutilized COVID-19 protections, particularly prescription drugs and residential testing sources — notably in communities the place an infection and dying charges are highest.
“Nobody ought to die from COVID-19 when free testing, vaccines and efficient treatment are all available in our neighborhood,” stated Contra Costa Well being Director Anna Roth, in an announcement Monday. “Preventable COVID-19 deaths in our county are unacceptable,”
“The time has come for us to suppose in another way about this virus,” Roth stated. “When a member of our neighborhood dies from COVID immediately, we must always perceive why after which work to take away any boundaries to therapy that will have contributed to that dying.”
CCH has opened its recommendation nurse line to any county resident who exams constructive for COVID-19 (PCR/lab or house take a look at). Recommendation nurses display callers and schedule free telehealth appointments and prescriptions for therapy, if medically acceptable.
Most individuals 12 and older can get a prescription for antiviral treatment, lowering the chance of great sickness or dying. The treatment works finest inside 48 hours of a constructive take a look at end result.
Name 1-877-661-6230 in the event you take a look at constructive to make an appointment for a free same-day session.
CCH on Monday additionally issued a well being advisory to medical suppliers, urging them to make sure all COVID-positive residents have well timed entry to the suitable medication.
All through this month, CCH will roll out extra efforts to cut back preventable COVID-19 deaths, aiming to cut back unfold, save lives by early testing and therapy, and handle social inequities placing many at greater danger of dying from COVID-19.
“There are stark variations in COVID mortality charges between our wealthiest, healthiest neighborhoods and people with vital challenges to neighborhood well being,” stated Gilbert Salinas, CCH Chief Fairness Officer. “Path to Zero helps us to sharpen our deal with our most weak communities.”
The Path to Zero marketing campaign is knowledgeable by a mortality evaluate workforce of medical specialists, analyzing Contra Costa’s COVID-19 deaths to forestall extra deaths and higher perceive doable missed alternatives to entry care and therapy. Mortality evaluate is a medical finest follow used to combat many different illnesses, together with tuberculosis and HIV.
“We already know lots of the steps we have to cut back preventable deaths in our county,” stated Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa’s well being officer. “This method permits us to fine-tune our efforts to make sure we offer most profit the place it’s wanted essentially the most.”
The mortality evaluate course of will assist CCH develop an evidence-based description of what a “preventable” COVID-19 dying appears like – usually one through which the affected person did not have entry or did not use a few of the means accessible to cut back danger of great sickness or dying as the results of their an infection.
For extra data, go to CCHealth.org.
