The CDC defines Healthcare settings as places where healthcare is delivered and includes, but is not limited to, acute care facilities, long term acute care facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, home healthcare, vehicles where healthcare is delivered (e.g., mobile clinics), and outpatient facilities, such as dialysis centers, physician offices, and others.
Guidelines for Healthcare Personnel
- “In general, fully vaccinated HCP (Healthcare Personnel) should continue to wear source control (masks, gloves, gowns) while at work. However, fully vaccinated HCP could dine and socialize together in break rooms and conduct in-person meetings without source control or physical distancing. If unvaccinated HCP are present, everyone should wear source control (masks, gloves, gowns) and unvaccinated HCP should physically distance from others.” If you are fully vaccinated, wearing a mask is your option when not involved with direct patient care.
- “While at work” means patient treatment, not in office settings with co-workers. Individuals who visit the clinic for the expressed purposes of receiving medical, dental, eye, or lab treatment(s) are still required to wear masks. For individuals receiving counseling, therapy, or social services, masks are not mandatory but keep safety in mind. Therapists, Social Workers, Case Workers, Medical Transporters exercise your best judgment in deciding if you want to wear your mask while delivering services. Do not ask clients if they are vaccinated.
If you are unvaccinated, we encourage you to get vaccinated; if not, then we encourage you to wear your mask and adhere to social distancing for your safety and those around you.