Monthly Archives: November 2020

(November 25, 2020 3:33 PM) The Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity and Unemployment Insurance Agency have submitted to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a report prepared by Deloitte & Touche LLP  documenting the chronology of the State’s efforts to identify and respond to fraud risks regarding unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, LEO selected Deloitte, a nationally recognized professional services organization, to assist the UIA with financial operations, investigations into imposter claims and a forensic review to help identify fraudulent activity that can be quickly turned over to law enforcement for prosecution. The report identified areas where UIA’s policy, technological and organizational changes increased the Agency’s potential exposure to fraud, and documented steps UIA has already taken to enhance its fraud risk management capabilities to address those identified vulnerabilities in the unemployment system. “While the Agency’s previous decisions sought to balance fraud prevention and timely payment to eligible claimants, we strongly agree with the report’s findings that policy, technological and organizational changes increased the Agency’s potential exposure to fraud,” said UIA Acting Director Liza Estlund Olson. “By releasing this report, our hope is that the public will better understand the aggressive measures UIA took to address these vulnerabilities…

(November 25, 2020 12:00 PM) The Jackson County Health Department released the COVID-19 positive numbers for Jackson County.  As of 12 PM today, there are 4,447 positive cases (cumulative), and 84 deaths (cumulative)*.     There are 78 new cases since yesterday's report.    Cumulative recovered, as of November 25, 2020:  1,794** The cumulative numbers posted on Mondays include the data from Sunday and Monday .  Recovered numbers are being posted as received. The Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting as of 6:30 PM November 20, there are 2,063 confirmed positive cases at Jackson facilities and 267 confirmed positive staff cases.  MDOC positive case numbers are cumulative. As of 8 AM November 25, there 57 persons at Henry Ford Allegiance Health being treated as inpatients for COVID-19. Note:  Jackson County will post COVID-19 data daily by mid-afternoon, Monday-Saturday, keeping with the schedule established by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The cumulative numbers posted on Monday will include the data from Sunday and Monday.  Recovered numbers are being posted as received.  Epicurve data and Township maps are also posted on Mondays by 3:30 PM (this week’s map is delayed and will be posted when available). *These numbers do…

(November 25, 2020 11:09 AM) As two promising mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna move closer to approval, healthcare providers around the country are being challenged to receive, store and distribute these vaccines, both of which require storage at unusually low temperatures. As the only hospital in Michigan chosen as a Phase 3 trial site for the Moderna mRNA vaccine study, Henry Ford Health System is one of the few healthcare organizations in the country that will be ready the moment one or both of these vaccines is approved. The Moderna mRNA vaccine needs to be stored and transported at minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit). The Pfizer mRNA vaccine requires more extreme refrigeration at minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit). That means health care organizations need special freezers to maintain the vaccines and their potency at these extremely low temperatures. “We have been investigating these specialized refrigeration units needed to store these vaccines and preparing our facilities and operations since early summer,” said Ed Szandzik, RPh, MBA, Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Henry Ford Health System. Over the past few weeks, Henry Ford has received and began installing 6 specialized freezers that can…