We know this has been a challenging week due to the Kronos ransomware attack, but we hope you are having a healthy and productive week as we come into the final stretch of 2021.
What You Should Know This Week:
- Today has been named Boost NJ Day to mark the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccines administered in New Jersey. After one year, our state has one of highest vaccination rates in the nation. In recognition of this anniversary, Cooper is taking part in a statewide effort to encourage as many New Jersey residents as possible to get a COVID-19 vaccine or a booster shot before the holidays. To learn how Cooper is helping the community get vaccinated, click here.
- Today, New Jersey reported another 30 deaths and 3,524 new cases of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the state’s seven-day average for new positive tests increased to 3,875, up 180% from a month ago. To read more click here.
- Kronos Ransomware Outage Update. UKG, the company that operates Cooper’s Kronos software, has experienced a ransomware attack. As a result, our Kronos system is not working. We have created a short-term process to ensure everyone is paid appropriately next week. Please help by submitting to your timekeeper the daily time sheet we have created – click here for the time sheet and other resources. Timekeepers must submit their team members’ time for last week to payroll@cooperhealth.edu by noon tomorrow and their time for this week by Monday at noon. We have created a hotline for managers – 100-8463 or 968.8463. You can also send your timekeeping questions by email here.
- The Kronos ransomware attack underscores the importance of cybersecurity vigilance for every Cooper team member. Please be extra cautious around the holidays as hackers often use holiday-themed phishing attacks to trick you. In fact, last week we ran another phishing test and the results indicate an unacceptably high number of Cooper team members clicked on the link in the email. Now more than ever, we must do better to protect our health system and our patients’ data.
- The flu vaccine deadline is tomorrow. Please get your shot or request an exemption by Click here for additional flu clinic dates and here for exemptions.
- Last month, the 9th Annual Berkowitz Family Foundation Lecture was held at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Speakers Anthony Rostain, MD, MA, Chief and Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Cooper University Health Care, and Emily Damuth, MD, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, hosted an engaging discussion entitled: Bearing Witness to Suffering: How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Transforming Critical Care Medicine. Click here to learn more and watch the lecture.
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University’s a capella group – ACoopella – recently performed a special concert at the hospital that was live-streamed to all patient rooms and recorded for team members to watch. To view the concert, click here.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new quarantine and isolation guidelines for the community (these do not apply to health care workers) that differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Here is a link to the new CDC guidelines. Please use these guidelines to educate patients as well as family and friends.
- Next week we will announce the winners of Cooper’s 2021 Virtual Holiday Tree Decorating Contest on Pulse+. Thank you to all who participated by either decorating a tree or submitting your vote. This year there were nine entries and more than 300 votes.
- Have you seen Cooper’s Safety Elf? The Twelve Days of Safety are in full swing. From now through December 23, 2021, you can follow the Cooper Safety Elf on Pulse+ to win a pizza party for your unit by competing in safety The more you participate, the more chances you have to win. Click here to learn more.
- Click here to read today’s Daily Dose, “The Best Healthy Habits of 2021.” As always, you can view the Daily Dose archives here.
- We love to hear patient feedback about their excellent health care experience at Cooper. Kudos to all who are making The Cooper Experience a reality. Click here to read more.
- Topic of the Week – Resilience is defined as “the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens.” Our Cooper team has, once again, shown its resilience in responding quickly and creatively to the Kronos ransomware attack to ensure everyone is paid accurately right before a major Clearly, the end of the year is not the ideal for our timekeeping system to go down, especially with all the other pandemic challenges. Thank you for your patience and strength. Remember, you have support. Please call our hotline 100-8463 or 856-968-8463 or send your timekeeping questions by email here. We also want to thank the HR and Finance teams for their quick response.
- Movie Quote: “Towanda!”
We appreciate your ongoing hard work and commitment during these challenging times.
Please email CEOQuestions@CooperHealth.edu with any questions or comments.