SOM Resident/Fellow COVID-19 Information

Check for email announcements and regular updates on this webpage.

April 2, 2020, 3:08 p.m. - School of Medicine Update COVID-19 Testing

Dear Colleagues:

We want to update you on the current status of COVID-19 testing at the School of Medicine (SOM) and Tulane Medical Center (TMC).

COVID-19 Testing Laboratories
Since Monday, 3/30/20, TMC has implemented COVID-19 testing on the Roche platform which allows test results within 24 hours or sooner. This testing at TMC is being done in collaboration with LSU and LCMC/University Medical Center (UMC) so that during each run of 94 tests, one-half is for each hospital. Depending on availability of kits, TMC may do 2 runs daily, allowing testing of 184 samples.

Starting Wednesday, 4/1/20, the SOM implemented COVID-19 testing at its Molecular Pathology Laboratory using the CDC test. This testing was established through a collaboration between Dr. Bob Garry and his team (Microbiology) and Drs. Xiao-Ming Yin and Di Tian (Pathology). The laboratory can run approximately 100 tests a day, and test results will be available within 24 hours or less. The initial priority for testing is our patients, SOM healthcare providers and residents, SOM faculty, staff and students. We hope to extend testing to first responders and to the whole Tulane University community soon, as we obtain further resources.

COVID-19 Testing Sites
On March 23rd, the SOM opened its drive-through COVID-19 test site located at 1700 Perdido, under the guidance of Dr. David Mushatt (Infectious Diseases), Dr. John Carlson (Allergy & Immunology), and Joe Esneault. This site is open for Tulane SOM faculty, residents, staff and students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms – fever, cough and/ or shortness of breath. Testing is by appointment only after a telehealth visit performed by the SOM Wellness Clinic. If a SOM employee is feeling ill, they should call the Employee Wellness Clinic at 988-HEAL (4325) or email wellnessclinic@tulane.edu. They will be triaged by phone and a virtual visit will be completed the same day or the next day. Nasal swabs collected at the testing site are processed at the Molecular Pathology Laboratory.

TMC has established an employee drive-through testing for symptomatic employees. If a TMC employee or TU physician is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, that person or his or her manager should first call TMC employee health at (504) 988-1878. Employee health will confirm those symptoms and, if appropriate, coordinate testing for the employee. Tests will be available downtown from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

L. Lee Hamm, MD                                                                  Patrick Delafontaine, MD
Senior Vice President & Dean, SOM                                      Executive Dean
James R. Doty Distinguished Professor & Chair                    Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology & Physiology

____________________________________

March 24, 2020, 11:28 a.m. - Meal Information for School of Medicine Residents

Because Tulane Medical Center is currently able to provide food service only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., the School of Medicine has arranged several options for Tulane residents to access meals outside of these hours.

• A hot dinner will be provided in the Hutchinson Cafeteria daily between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. for all faculty and residents with a Tulane University I.D.
• Sandwiches, fruit and drinks will be available to residents in the Hutchinson Resident Lounge 24 hours a day. A Tulane University I.D. will be required to access the Resident Lounge.

These meals will be offered free to Tulane residents with a Tulane University I.D. for a two-week period beginning Monday, March 23. At the end of that period, the need for these services will be reevaluated. Please feel free to take extra meals or lunch boxes back to your fellow residents who cannot make it over to Hutchinson.

For access to Hutchinson, please use the bridge from Tulane Medical Center, and please be mindful of the social distancing guidelines. If someone is ahead of you getting food, please stand back until they are finished.

And once again, thank you for all you are doing to care for our patients right now. We have no words to express our gratitude for your efforts, and these meals are only a small token of our appreciation.

Margaret Bell, Assistant Dean for Finance

______________________________________

Message from the SOM Wellness Committee -- Food and Supplies, Meal Services, Exercise, and Mental Health and Well-Being Resources

Dear Tulane Residents and Fellows,

Many of you have had your duties and responsibilities significantly change in the last couple weeks. Below are a few resources to help while you are trying to manage the new changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. We care about your health and wellbeing and hope we can all work together to get through this global crisis. Take a look at the below resources and use as you please!

--SOM Wellness Committee

Food and Supplies
Please note: due to heavy demand, not all services may be available at all stores, and there may be significant delivery delays.

Walmart Grocery: Get your groceries delivered to your home. You can also arrange a time to pick up your groceries as well.
Rouses Market: Uses InstaCart to have groceries delivered. Be sure to change to your own zip code.

Dining Take out and Delivery
Support local businesses and maintain social distancing by using restaurant take-out and delivery services.

Exercise
Physical activity and exercise are evidence-based ways to manage anxiety and stress. Many places are offering free online material and daily workouts while they're closed to comply with stay-at-home orders. Here are a few:

Wild Lotus (local to NOLA): Members can sign up for online classes and will be sent a link to a YouTube class. Some free community content for non-members.
YMCA: Free on-demand programs and digital coaching
Free to be Yoga in New Orleans: live feed yoga 6am daily
YouTube has several resources for free work out classes, especially yoga and meditation
Orange Theory
305 Fitness
Core Power Yoga: Unlimited for members, some free classes for non members.
Romney Studios: online classes at special rates
- 7 days intro – Free!
- Promo code: RSQUARANTINE1 for discounts monthly $13.99 monthly
- Promo code: RSQUARANTINEANNUAL for discounts yearly $133.99 yearly
BeachBody: Free workouts for 14 days
Peloton - group classes

Managing Anxiety and Stress
Tulane resources: New Directions Behavioral Health:

Click on for Individual and Family Members, Click Employee Assistance Program then
Enter the login code: Tulane
Browse for resources needed
Click on Health Resource Library

Other resources:

Headspace a very good meditation app allowing physicians with an NOI number to use their app for free.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Uniformed Services University Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:

Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
Care for Your Virus Anxiety: All kinds of relevant content addressing anxiety brought up by COVID 19 (including isolation, financial fears, and xenophobia); Canadian-based.

Social Media, Apps, and Other Distractions

Check out Tulane Med Wellness on Instagram @resi.wellness and @tulane_surgery
COVID Women Physicians Emotional Wellbeing Facebook Group
Headspace: Currently FREE meditation app for healthcare workers through the end of the year (anyone with an NPI). 14 days free otherwise. Also has kid content.
Mindshift CBT: Cognitive Behavioral App for Anxiety
Down Dog apps (Yoga, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, 7 min): All free through April
Virtual Visits to National Parks
Museum Tours and More
Live streamed concerts

Information for

University Info

Account Login

Check for email announcements and regular updates on this webpage.

Other resources: