S02 D.3 STVHCS COVID-19 Guidelines.docx

D.3 STVHCS COVID-19 Guidelines – RFQ 36C25724Q0105

All South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) employees are encouraged to view the updated COVID-19 guidelines below effective June 1, 2023.

Based on new VHA COVID-19 Under Secretary for Health email released May 30, 2023

Universal Masking continues to be required:

· For those with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection or other viral respiratory infection.

· If you have knowingly been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 10 days.

· For VA staff during clinical encounters when requested by a Veteran, caregiver, or family member.

· During aerosol generating procedures (AGP) procedures, N95 can be considered for PPE per staff comfort. N95 required for veterans in Airborne isolation has not changed.

Masking encouraged in inpatient and outpatient waiting areas.

Masking continues to be required for staff, Veterans, and visitors while in the high-risk areas listed below:

· Transplant units

· Dialysis

· Chemotherapy units

· ED & urgent care

Masking continues to be required for staff and visitors while in the high-risk areas listed below. Masking is no longer required for Veterans admitted to these units:

· SCI and CLC (staff and visitors only)

Staff may remove masks in these high-risk areas only under the following circumstances:

· they are not in a patient room.

· they are not within six feet of a Veteran in a congregate area (e.g., shared meals in CLC); or

· they are not within six feet of a patient in an open treatment area/room.

Masking is no longer universally required in the following locations:

· Acute inpatient medical/surgical units

· Acute inpatient mental health units

· Intensive care units with closed rooms. If unit maintains open doors for patient safety, universal masking will be required on the unit.

· Clinical areas where aerosol generating procedures are performed (this is separate from the actual procedure).

· Laboratories collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected COVID-19 patients (e.g., areas where staff are manipulating cultures from known or suspected COVID-19 patients)

· Congregate settings and bedded residential settings (e.g., blind rehab, residential mental health, homeless shelters)

· Outpatient areas where a significant proportion of patients have high-risk for complication, except if meets the above section for high risk (e.g., dialysis).

Based on new VHA COVID-19 Under Secretary for Health email released May 30, 2023

· All employees at all sites are expected to continue self- screening prior to coming to work. For any concerns, please contact your supervisor prior to arriving to work.

Local policy: SOP for Visitation of COVID19 Positive Patients

• Shared meals and gatherings are allowed.

• Follow travel restrictions Safer Federal Workforce Travel FAQs

• COVID-19: VA's Workplace Re-Entry Guidance

• Protecting the Federal Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic | SFW

Veterans should be screened for exposures to COVID 19 within 10 days of procedure or any COVID symptoms prior to the procedure. Routine pre-procedure testing is not required for asymptomatic patients, unless at the discretion of the provider.

Admission Testing: COVID testing should be done prior to all admissions except for patients with a prior positive PCR test documented in CPRS within the last 3 months. Patients meeting this exception criteria should only be tested if clinically indicated by admitting clinician or immunosuppressed.

Admissions without symptoms: can be admitted as a PUI and placed in a regular room with the door closed. Veteran should be swabbed upon arrival to the unit. Staff wears appropriate PPE for Airborne, Contact, and Eye Protection until results of the swab return.

Surveillance testing for CLC and SCI Staff is no longer required.