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In the photo above L-R: Sofia Aguirre and Kimberly Puente.
Two new staffers started this week at the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.
Kimberly Puente was recently hired as a Policy Analyst for Government Affairs and Post-Acute Care. She holds a Master of Social Work degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Kim aspires to use her community-based work experience to assist in the evaluation and development of policy. Her experiences include work as a legislative aide at the Hawaii State Capitol, and direct practice work as a case worker for a law firm.
She is from Nevada, and enjoys cooking, hiking, and volunteering.
The second new staffer is Sofia Aguirre, who was hired as the Health Policy Analyst, Reimbursement and Quality.
Her background is in healthcare and business, with over 10 years of combined experience. Her most recent role was overseeing the operations of retail and commercial construction projects, for which she played a key role coordinating schedules, budget, issues, and risks of projects.
She earned an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) and a Bachelors of Science in Public Health from HPU, graduating both with distinction.
She is very passionate about healthcare and looks forward to contributing to improving the overall quality of healthcare in Hawaii.
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Vaccination Open to 5 to 11 Year-Olds
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Photo Credit: Hawai`i Pacific Health, Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women & Children
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, and the first keiki in Hawaii in this age range have started receiving the vaccine.
For this age group, the CDC has recommended a child-sized dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, one-third of the adult dose. Testing showed that even at that lower dosage, 5- to 11-year-old children developed a strong coronavirus-fighting antibody response.
The hope is that if enough parents move to vaccinate their children, more Hawaii families will celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s safely without spreading COVID-19 along with their good cheer.
Children will also be prepared to return to the classroom, sports and other activities after the New Year’s holiday with a high degree of protection against COVID-19.
Parents who are uncertain about the vaccine are urged to consult a trusted medical provider who knows their children’s health status, and can advise on issues of safety.
For vaccination locations, please visit here.
Facts for parents considering vaccinating their child:
- Children who are infected can transmit the coronavirus to family members and others, even if they have no symptoms.
- The Pfizer vaccine was 90.7% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in studies of 3,100 children ages 5 to 11 who received two shots. It protects the child and reduces the chance they’ll transmit the virus to family members, friends, and others.
- While children often experience mild COVID-19 symptoms, they are also at risk for long-term effects, including severe conditions like major organ inflammation. These long-term effects can last for months after even a mild infection.
- Fully vaccinated individuals are 10 times less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and have a high degree of protection, including against the Delta variant.
- Fully vaccinated students who attend Department of Education schools do not need to quarantine at home if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19 and asymptomatic. Unvaccinated close contacts must stay home from school and quarantine for 10 days.
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JCR Registration Early Bird Rates
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Registration is now open for the 2021 HAH Joint Commission Education Program, which will be held virtually on Dec. 9 and 10. Early bird discounted rates are available until Nov. 12.
Each year, HAH brings to its hospital members the latest from the Joint Commission, the organization that accredits healthcare organizations.
The training topics include survey updates, maternal health standards, clinical topics, regulatory updates, and a focus on environment of care and life safety.
This year’s faculty includes Dr. Lauren McCourt and Lisa Hardesty, who have spoken at previous HAH JCR events. The third speaker is Mary Cole, MSN, BSN, RN, CIC, CJCP, an expert in infection control and a Joint Commission surveyor.
To register click here. Early Bird Registration rates are available through 11/12/21. Registration closes on Dec. 3.
Employees of Tripler Army Medical Center and the Veteran’s Administration may have difficulty registering online due to firewall settings. For assistance with registration, email Lori Henning at lhenning@hah.org. |
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Kokua Mau Webinar
22 Tactics to Increase Your CAHPS Scores in 2022
Nov. 10, 10 am - 11:30 am
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Kokua Mau Webinar
Medicare Advantage 2022 Hospice Update: Value-Based Insurance Design Model (VBID) Registration Options & Pricing
Dec. 2, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
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Kokua Mau Webinar
Hospice Aide Services: Enhancing RN Supervision
Dec. 8, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
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