Truman Medical Center in Kansas City to require workers to be vaccinated for COVID

Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City announced Monday that it will require all workers to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, becoming one of the first in the region to do so.

“[Truman Medical Centers/University Health] wants to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our patients, our workforce, and our community safe,” Charlie Shields, president and CEO said in a written statement released Monday. Truman Medical Centers/University Health is an academic medical center providing health care in the Kansas City area.

“In doing so, we recognize the importance of leading by example. For that reason, and so the medical center remains able to care for the growing number of patients suffering from COVID-19, the entire workforce at Truman Medical Centers/University Health will be required to be vaccinated by September 20,” Shields said.

The mandate is consistent with it’s long-standing practices of requiring health care workers to be vaccinated against serious infectious diseases for the safety of patients and staff. Approximately 70% of its staff have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus and its variants.

The announcement came on the same day more than nearly 60 professional medical groups and associations issued a joint statement calling for mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for all health care and long-term care workers, according to a release from the American Public Health Association.

Because of the recent surge in COVID-19 and the availability of safe and effective vaccines, the organizations and societies urged that all health care and long-term care employers require their workers to be vaccinated.

“This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health care workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being.”

Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. in a statement released Monday afternoon praised Truman Medical Center, which is Jackson County’s safety-net hospital, for being the first health system in the region to require all staff to be vaccinated.

“I know that being the first to do something is never easy, but in order for our community to remain strong and continue to grow, we must have leaders who are willing to step up and do what is right regardless of the pushback that might come,” he said.

“I am grateful for the leadership of Mr. Charlie Shields and his entire team at Truman Medical Centers/University Health for their decision to require all staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19. At a time when our healthcare workforce continues to battle this deadly disease, which has sadly overwhelmed our state once again, today’s announcement should provide comfort to TMC/UH patients as well as pave a path that others can follow.”

The most effective way for people to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus is to get vaccine, he said. The heath and safety of the community depends on people taking personal responsibility.

“I am hopeful that the action taken by TMC/UH today reminds us all of the seriousness of our current situation, encourages all who are eligible to find a vaccine immediately and is the first of many similar announcements to come,” White said.

University of Kansas Health Systems

The University of Kansas Health Systems is not requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees at the moment, spokesperson Jill Chadwick said. However, they are having “high level conversations” about when and why they might make them mandatory.

About 80% of their employees have been vaccinated, Chadwick said, and they continue recommending the shot to those who haven’t gotten it.

HCA Midwest Health

HCA Midwest Health, which includes Research, Menorah, Centerpoint, Lee’s Summit and Overland Park Regional medical centers, said it strongly encourages its workers to get the COVID- 19 vaccine, which is consistent with its recommendation for the annual flu shot.

“Our hospitals continue to experience an increase in COVID-19 admissions, with nearly 100 COVID-19 patients currently being treated in our hospitals, with hospitals at 75% capacity overall,” said HCA Midwest Health spokeswoman Christine Hamele.

“This compares to 200 COVID-19 patients during the peak of the pandemic. The vast majority of COVID patients — well over 90% in our care — are not vaccinated.”

The most effective way to prevent a COVID surge in our region is for people, especially essential workers and healthcare colleagues to get a COVID vaccine as soon as possible, she said.

Advent Health

Advent Health in Kansas City does not have a mandatory vaccination requirement for their employees yet.

Morgan Shandler, spokesperson for the medical center, said she doesn’t anticipate that will change soon.

“It’s definitely being discussed but I don’t know yet if, or when that will happen,” Shandler said.

In those discussions, Advent Health is looking at the fact that the vaccines have an emergency approval from the FDA, but full approval is pending.

So far, about 75% of their employees in Kansas City are fully vaccinated. They expect more information on the possibility of a mandate in a couple of weeks.

Providence Medical Center

Providence Medical Center was not immediately able to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday announced that it would require health care workers to get vaccinated. Employees will have eight weeks to be fully vaccinated.

Vaccines will be mandatory for certain medical personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants and others who work in departmental facilities or provide direct care to veterans, said VA Secretary Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.

“It’s the best way to keep veterans safe, especially as the delta variant spreads across the country,” McDonough said in a statement. “Whenever a veteran or VA employee sets foot in a VA facility, they deserve to know that we have done everything in our power to protect them from COVID-19.

“With this mandate, we can once again make — and keep — that fundamental promise,” he added.

Springfield

Earlier this month, Mercy health systems, with more than 40 hospitals in Missouri, Kansas and some neighboring states, said it was requiring employees at to get a COVID vaccination. It was one of the few in the nation to mandate the shots.

The rule goes into effect Sept. 30 for the hospitals, which are in such cities as Springfield, Joplin and St. Louis, as well as in Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The Associated Press provided some information for this story.