Changes to COVID-19 Policies at Strong Memorial and Highland Hospitals

Changes to COVID-19 Policies at Strong Memorial and Highland Hospitals

The changing landscape of COVID-19 has led to several updates within organizations, locally, statewide, and federally. Following the expiration of the public health emergency on May 11^th, the NYS Department of Health has reevaluated the policy which mandates vaccination for healthcare workers and will fully repeal it. In recognition of this change, Strong Memorial Hospital will remove the vaccination mandate once NYSDOH finalizes the repeal. In addition to vaccination requirements, changes to policies that impact masking for staff, patients, and visitors, as well as preadmission testing and employee screening and testing at Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals, were announced earlier in May. A summary of the changes is provided below for practices that are interested in aligning with local hospital guidance.

• Inpatient
  • Staff are required to mask when providing direct patient care, in patient rooms or other inpatient settings, and when transporting patients between rooms and services.
  • Staff are encouraged to mask in corridors, at nursing stations, and in public areas unless patient care is being provided in those areas
  • Staff unvaccinated against influenza are required to mask at all times where patients are present until the NYS health commissioner determines the flu season has ended.
  • Patients and visitors are encouraged to mask and masks will be provided upon request
• Outpatient
  • Staff, patients, and visitors are encouraged to mask.
  • Staff are required to mask upon patient request
  • Staff unvaccinated against influenza are required to mask at all times where patients are present until the NYS health commissioner determines the flu season has ended.
• Special Circumstances
  • Masking is required in patient rooms and public areas where patients may be especially vulnerable, such as the Wilmot Cancer Center tower. However, masking remains optional in private conference rooms and break rooms where doors are closed, and no patients are present.
• Preadmission Testing
  • Preadmission testing will be discontinued for asymptomatic patients. Testing will continue for symptomatic patients in a similar manner to RSV and flu testing.
• Employee COVID Screening and Testing
  • Employees must use their department procedures to notify managers of an absence. Symptomatic employees should be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, and symptoms should be mild and improving before reporting to work.
  • Employees are encouraged to take home tests or visit their care provider for COVID-19 testing as it is no longer routinely available through employee health.