From BMC Communications: COVID-19 Updates; 3/13 @ 8:09 AM
FROM BMC COMMUNICATION:
Dear Colleagues,
Please read below for today’s updates.
A Note about Mask Usage and Conservation
No employee should have a mask on as they walk through the hospital unless they are caring for a patient on precautions in that patient’s room, or are transporting a patient on precautions. We need everyone’s help to conserve our supplies.
Updated Visitor Policy and Hospital Access Changes for Patients, Visitors, and Staff
An earlier update<http://s2.bl-1.com/h/cNMKMLKW?url=https://internal.bmc.org/sites/default/files/docs/2020-03/visitor%20policy_access%20restrictions_3.12.20.pdf> outlined our updated visitor policy (one visitor per patient at a time, no visitors under 18, no PACU visitors) as well as our plan to limit access points to the hospital.
NEW: Guidance for Care and Placement of Patients with Viral Respiratory Illnesses
In light of new guidance<http://s2.bl-1.com/h/cNMKMRkY?url=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhcp%2Finfection-control.html> from the CDC, effective immediately BMC has updated its own infection control recommendations surrounding the care of patients with COVID-19. These new guidelines are designed to protect the safety of our employees, while ensuring we are able to continue to provide excellent care to our patients during an ongoing epidemic. It will also ensure staff are protected from unsuspected initial presentations of COVID-19 patients. They are consistent with what other academic medical centers have adopted.
Below is a summary of the changes. More detailed procedures will be shared as they are developed.
1) All patients with symptoms consistent with any viral respiratory illnesses (including suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases)