How to get care from your home during COVID-19
To lessen the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to help health care providers prioritize care for those who need it most, use your phone, smartphone, or computer to access health care whenever possible. Most King County employee medical plans have free options for telehealth or virtual visits. If you need to go in-person, call your doctor first. If it’s an emergency, call 911.
Check the information below to learn how to access care through your health plan.
SmartCare (Kaiser Permanente)
Customer Service: 888-901-4636
- Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days per week
Ways to access care and advice:
- Telehealth visits: Kaiser offers care and advice without an in-person visit—including phone, email, and video. To access these telehealth options, call the advice number on your Kaiser membership card or go to Get Care and select “24/7 advice.”
- Care Chat: Members can instant message with a Kaiser Permanente care provider 24/7.
- Online visit: For common medical issues that don’t need a physical exam, such as a sore throat or allergies, you can go online and get a diagnosis and treatment plan, usually within two hours.
- Consulting Nurse: Members can call a nurse for care guidance and advice 24/7 at 800-297-6877.
- All Kaiser remote health options are available for no extra cost to members.
Prescriptions
- Kaiser is waiving early prescription medication refill limits, so members with less than a 30-day supply on hand can obtain up to a 90-day supply (except controlled substances) at a Kaiser pharmacy. Learn more about getting extra medication to have on hand.
- Kaiser’s COVID-19 web page: Access regular updates and guidance.
Mental Health
Kaiser Permanente members can call the KP Mental Health Access Center at 888-287-2680, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon. – Fri., to schedule your first appointment.
KingCare or KingCare Select (Regence BlueShield)
Customer Service: 800-376-7926
- Hours: 5 a.m. – 8 p.m., Mon. – Fri., Sat. 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ways to access care and advice:
- Telehealth visits: Doctor on Demand is waiving the $10 copay through May 31, so video visits are free and available 24/7. Download the Doctor on Demand app at your device’s app store, or visit Doctor on Demand from your computer. Go to Coronavirus: Preparation and Prevention for information and an assessment tool to prepare you in the case of exposure to the virus. Note: Doctor on Demand is available to the Regular and Transit ATU employee benefit groups.
- In addition, coverage has been expanded to cover other providers and services that can be appropriately rendered in a telehealth setting. Many in-network providers now offer telehealth options, including primary care; behavioral health; and physical, occupational, and speech therapists. Check with your provider.
- Regence Advice24: Members can call a nurse for care guidance and advice 24/7 at 800-267-6729.
Prescriptions
- CVS Caremark is waiving early prescription medication refill limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications (except controlled substances) at any in-network pharmacy. For non-maintenance prescriptions, CVS will approve a one-time emergency refill for a 14-day supply. Learn more about getting extra medication to have on hand.
- Regence’s COVID-19 web page: Access regular updates and guidance.
Mental Health
You can access free mental health visits with a licensed mental health provider through May 31 using Dr. on Demand (see instructions above). As always, you also can access the Regence network of mental health providers through your regular medical plan benefits.
EAP and Making Life Easier is here for you
If you are stressed, need help with childcare or eldercare, or just want to talk to someone, the Employee Assistance Program and Making Life Easier (login: King County) can be helpful. Both resources are free and confidential. Making Life Easier is available to employees’ family members too.
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Managing records while telecommuting
As King County continues to respond to COVID-19, many employees are telecommuting and working from home. With this shift in work style comes different duties and tasks, including the opportunity to manage and clean out records. This can include tasks such as filing records to Content Manager, and cleaning up records in Outlook or on shared drives.
This work is an essential job duty that can easily be done when employees are out of office, and it serves significantly useful purposes in responding to public records requests, reducing financial liability, and helping each employee do their job more efficiently. To get started, consider taking an online training course, beginning with Basic Records Management and Content Manager courses. A guiding list for managing records while teleworking can be viewed here.
“Although records management should be a part of every employee’s daily work, telecommuting offers a great opportunity to manage our records”, said Ryan Wadleigh, Content Manager Business Analyst with the Records Management Program.
For more information and to learn how to get started, visit the Records Management Program website and view the guide for managing records while teleworking. Please find telecommute resources here and submit a signed telecommute agreement to your supervisor if applicable. Employees can also get KCIT guidance here on the necessary technology tools (SharePoint).
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Living our values to stop the spread of stigma
As we work to stop the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), it’s equally important that we stop the spread of stigma and support each other during this challenging time.
“We are racially just” and “We respect all people” are two of our core values. It’s as important as ever that we stay true to our values and do everything in our power to stand together against discrimination.
Misinformation about COVID-19 can create fear or hostility that hurts people. Please remember that:
- Coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity
- Wearing a mask may be a cultural practice, and does not mean a person is ill
- You can interrupt stigma. Start by sharing accurate information
- Speak up if you hear, see, or read misinformation or harassment
- Show compassion and support for those most closely impacted.
King County offers resources to the community that show the importance of sharing accurate information and how to work together to decrease stigma.
It’s important to understand workplace rights and responsibilities, how to report discrimination, and additional resources to help keep our employees and communities safe. Some of these resources include King County Office of Civil Rights, Washington State Human Rights Commission, and Washington Paid Sick Leave.
Take advantage of these resources to prevent, interrupt, and respond to stigma. We’re stronger as a community when we work together and stand up against discrimination. To learn more, please make use of these anti-stigma resources. Please share this funding resource for community based organizations to inform policy and develop community response to stigma.
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Use Text for Departures to see Reduced Service starting March 23
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Your bus may be running less often, during fewer hours, and/or be canceled. Text your bus stop ID # to 62550 for to find out when the next bus will arrive.
Visit the Reduced Service webpage. View the update in other languages here.
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Pet of the Week: Dakota
Hi! My name is Dakota and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by my previous owner on February 2, 2020. They described me as energetic and outgoing. I’m a really smart guy, everyone here at the shelter keeps calling me a genius and I’m not sure what they are refering to……. I love to train, I am beyond basic commands and would love to train for a job like agility or nose work.
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Have you or someone you know adopted a pet from RASKC? Let us know. We’d love to tell your story.
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Forensic Medicolegal Death Investigator I
Salary: $34.04 – $43.14 Hourly
Location: WA, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020AB11418
Division: Prevention
Closing: 3/25/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Keeping employees paid as we respond to COVID-19
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Dear fellow King County employee,
In this time of anxiety and disruption, the last thing I want is for our employees to have any additional stress while they work to stop the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community.
To that end, all Executive Branch employees will remain in paid status and continue to receive their normal pay at least through Friday, April 24, with the exception of short-term temporary employees and interns. Whether you are teleworking, on the front lines, performing other duties, or on one of our types of leave – you WILL be paid normally. I will reassess this guidance in late April. (Note: this guidance applies to Executive Branch employees. Employees in separately elected agencies will receive guidance from their leaders).
Employees may be required to stay home for multiple reasons – health, family, and operational – during this outbreak. Please follow these guidelines when accessing leave:
- Employees who are sick must stay home and use their sick leave, donated leave, Executive Leave, and/or vacation leave.
- Employees who stay home to self-quarantine or take care of children or other family members shall use sick leave, donated leave, Executive Leave, and/or vacation leave.
- If any employee is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at work, they will be sent home and will receive temporary paid COVID-19 leave.
- If there is insufficient work for an employee, and they are unable to telecommute, they will receive temporary paid COVID-19 leave.
- If an employee’s work can no longer be performed at their regular work location for operational reasons (such as building closures) and they are unable to telecommute, they will receive temporary paid COVID-19 leave.
If you have additional questions, please talk to your supervisor or department’s Human Resources Manager.
Our front line employees – including bus operators, corrections officers, and medical professionals – are doing extraordinary work in challenging circumstances. Our telecommuting workforce is continuing to meet the needs of our customers through innovation, creativity, and flexibility. I thank you all for everything you are doing to serve our community and keep one another safe as we fight this virus.
I have never been more proud of our King County workforce than I am right now. We are in this together (many of us virtually, of course). Your dedication, hard work, and compassion for our community is commendable, and I am so very thankful you are part of our team.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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2020 Worksite Fund applications temporarily paused due to coronavirus
The 2020 Worksite Fund application period has been temporarily paused while King County focuses its efforts on stopping the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Balanced You team will work with leadership to determine a new deadline that allows adequate time for teams to complete applications. The updated timeline will be announced at a later date.
Employees are invited to continue brainstorming Worksite Fund projects during this period. Please reach out to balancedyou@kingcounty.gov with questions or comments.
Balanced You supports you in rethinking self-care as you respond professionally and personally to coronavirus. Tips for telecommuters can be found here. Tips for emergency responders will be released in the coming weeks.
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Remembering the contributions of trailblazing women during Women’s History Month
During this difficult period, let us pause and remember the contributions by intelligent, passionate women toward helping and healing our world. From NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson and world renowned geneticist Barbara McClintock to computer programmer Grace Hopper and marine biologist Idelisa Bonnelly de Calventi, women have been responsible for leaps and bounds in science, math, medicine, the arts, and many other fields.
We take this month to honor their contributions and appreciate the impact women have in our lives. Join us in thanking and showing gratitude to women who have made a difference in your life.
View the official proclamation for Women’s History Month here.
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Navigating difficult times with resilience
As COVID-19 related events unfold, we find ourselves in uncertain terrain as impacts move closer to home. It’s common during these times to experience heightened anxiety or fear. While we cannot control external events, we can establish practices and enlist tools to support our resilience and well-being. Instead of suffering with anxiety, we have the ability to administer care to ourselves, our families, our work colleagues, and our communities. Join in on a free webinar to learn how to navigate these uncertain times with resilience.
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
- Wednesday, March 25, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
These free webinars, will bring together Wellspring EAP (your King County Making Life Easier provider) and Tiffany Wentz, MA, LMHC. Together they will explore the impact of anxiety and stress on our physical and mental well-being, understand how a climate of uncertainty can heighten our stress responses, discover practices and tools that support your well-being in anxious times, learn useful tips to successfully transition to a remote working environment, and discover how your employee support program can assist with your needs.
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