TO: Ballad Health All
FROM: Corporate Emergency Operations Center
DATE: May 4, 2020
TITLE: Updated travel guidelines
ACTION: Please read and share with all team members and Ballad Health Medical Associates-employed providers.
Even as businesses and public venues across the United States begin reopening, we must remain diligent with protection measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To that end, Ballad Health has updated its travel restrictions for team members and Ballad Health Medical Associates-employed providers.
Personal travel
Effective immediately, personal travel/paid time off (PTO) is permitted; however, all travel requests must be approved by team members’ direct supervisor. The supervisor must be informed of the travel destination. The team member does not need to report to Team Member Health prior to travel or upon return, however all team members are required to wear a mask (patient care areas) or cloth face covering (non-patient care areas) when they return to work.
International travel is not permitted without approval from the department Executive Vice President.
This adjustment in policy does not apply to previously-communicated PTO blackout periods for June and October, related to our Epic go-lives:
- If you work in ambulatory facilities going live with Epic – No PTO will be approved for June 1-19.
- If you work in acute care/inpatient departments going live with Epic, or already live with Epic – No PTO will be approved for Oct. 1-23.
- Corporate team members will be required to observe at least one of these blackout periods. Managers should discuss the blackout periods with their teams to determine which time frame would be most effective for their teams to be on hand.
- Team members in several other departments will need to be available during both go-lives. Ballad Health leadership will communicate directly with those teams.
Business travel
No business travel will be approved for the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends on June 30. Ballad Health will revisit this policy on July 1.
Travel tips
If you choose to travel outside of the Appalachian Highlands, please note:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has not ended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends staying at home as much as possible and practicing physical distancing, especially if you have a pre-existing condition or are at higher risk of severe illness.
- COVID-19 in the United States and abroad is a rapidly-evolving situation. The status of the disease’s spread varies by location, and state and local authorities are updating their guidance frequently, per the White House’s Opening Up America Again plan.
- If you travel, check with state and local authorities along your route, as well as at your destination, to learn about local circumstances and restrictions.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has numerous resources and recommendations for travel, from essential errands and tasks to long-distance flights and hotel stays:
- While traveling, maintain the same protection and hygiene measures you take while at work, such as wearing a face covering, observing physical distancing, covering your cough and performing frequent hand hygiene.
- Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant services or stores. Do not dine-in at restaurants if that is prohibited by state or local guidance.
- DO NOT TRAVEL if you are sick or with someone who is sick.
- Consider the risks of your travel:
- Air travel: Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights. However, there might be a risk of getting COVID-19 on crowded flights if there are other travelers on board with COVID-19.
- Bus or train travel: Sitting or standing within 6 feet of others for a prolonged period of time can put you at risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.
- Car travel: The stops you need to make along the way could put you and others in the car with you in close contact with others who could be infected.
- RV travel: Traveling by RV means you might have to stop less often for food or bathrooms, but RV travelers typically have to stop at RV parks overnight and other public places to get gas and supplies. These stops might put you and those with you in the RV in close contact with others who could be infected.
- If you stay in a hotel, motel or rental property:
- When you get to your room or rental property, clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, remote controls, toilets and faucets.
- Bring an EPA-registered disinfectant and other personal cleaning supplies.
- Wash any plates, cups or silverware (other than pre-wrapped plastic) before using.
- Anticipate your needs before you travel:
- Prepare food and water for the road. Pack non-perishables in case restaurants and stores are closed.
- Bring any medicines (prescription and over the counter) you might need.
- Pack a sufficient amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and keep it in a place that is readily available.
- Book accommodations in advance if you must stay somewhere overnight.
- Plan to make as few stops as possible, but make sure you rest when you feel drowsy or sleepy.
- Bring an EPA-registered disinfectant and other personal cleaning supplies.
If you choose to cancel a planned trip, there will be no reimbursement from Ballad Health for lost deposits. No other decisions about PTO, including adjusting the PTO bank deadline in January 2021, have been made.
These restrictions, recommendations and policies apply to both active and furloughed team members, as well as to providers employed by Ballad Health Medical Associates.
These policies are in place to protect our patients, team members and communities. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Mission Moment: An act of kindness
As we continue focusing much of our energy on COVID-19, we still want to recognize and celebrate the many moments, actions and people that make Ballad Health so special.
Casey Evans, a cardiovascular, vascular and thoracic surgery clinical supervisor, always provides exemplary patient care. Recently, her kindness touched a special patient in our community who was unable to get their medication.
This patient has survived extracorporeal membrane oxygen (ECMO), which is an advanced life support technique used for patients with life-threatening heart and/or lung problems. Therefore, the patients is considered high risk, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help protect her patient, Casey personally delivered their medication to their front door, so they would not have to get out.
Casey showed her dedication to patient care and safety in this small act of kindness – we’re beyond grateful to have team members like her!
Do you have a story or team member you’d like to recognize? Let us know by sending an email to BalladHealthCorporateEOC@balladhealth.org.
Additional points to note
- Please review the three educational flyers attached to this document. They may be printed and posted in work areas:
- Healthcare workers returning to work:
- Any healthcare worker who reports experiencing symptoms for COVID-19 will be excused from work for testing. Workers who are negative for COVID-19 on the first test will be required to follow the CDC test-based strategy, which requires two negative tests 24-hours apart. One negative test will no longer be acceptable.
- Any healthcare worker who tests positive for COVID-19 will be under isolation per Tennessee Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Health. Ballad Health will work with the appropriate department of health for an appropriate isolation release/return to work date on a case by case basis. It may not be feasible to obtain two negative tests on known positives as the PCR test may detect virus particles for several weeks after infection. A prolonged positive PCR test does not indicate continued infectiousness.
- Ballad Health has now resumed elective surgeries and diagnostic imaging. We will gradually increase these procedures over the coming weeks, ensuring our personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies remain adequate, we have enough staffing and our hospitals remain capable of performing procedures while also being well-prepared in case of a COVID-19 patient surge.
- All COVID-19 preventive measures – including work-from-home options, wearing masks and daily team member screenings – remain in place until further notice. Team members who have been asked to work from home should not visit their office or work space for social purposes. Please remain home and maintain physical distancing as much as possible.
- The next livestreamed media update will be Wednesday, May 6, at 11:30 a.m. You can watch live on Ballad Health’s Facebook page, and a link will be available that afternoon.
- COVID-19 testing costs $52. Ballad Health will charge patients’ insurance, and if a patient qualifies for our financial assistance policy, that cost may be written off. Community members who would like to be tested should call our Nurse Connect hotline at 833-822-5523.
- COVID-19 updates, testing information and news continues to be posted to www.balladhealth.org/COVID19.
