TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 TITLE: Guidance on masking Thank you for reviewing the memo sent last week regarding guidance on masking. Over the weekend, we received questions from various leaders requesting clarification or further guidance on our updated masking guidance. It is important to note that this is the current guidance and expectation. However, any department/patient care area may have more stringent masking requirements for protecting patients/team members as determined by the department leadership in collaboration with Infection Prevention (for example: for immunosuppressed patients, COVID-19/influenza outbreak, etc.). Frequently asked questions Q: What is the general expectation for team members working in acute settings? A mask is to be worn in ALL direct patient encounters. Examples include but are not limited to in hospital rooms, patient exam rooms, procedure rooms, when transporting a patient in the hallway, emergency registration departments, and waiting rooms in physician practices where patients…

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Oct. 7, 2022 TITLE: CDC guidance on masking, boosters COVID-19 inpatient cases: 65 COVID-19 patients in ICU: 8 COVID-19 patients on ventilators: 2 COVID-19 pediatric inpatients: 0 Masking guidance for healthcare facilities The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recently updated its infection control guidance for healthcare facilities, which has resulted in some confusion about masking. Ballad Health has made changes to its masking policy. We hope this memo will clarify where and when team members and patients are required to mask. Team member and patient masking guidelines Masking is required by team members when present in exam rooms and patient rooms for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated team members. Masks are required for all team members and patients who are personally experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Visitors experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness should not be permitted to visit unless authorized by facility leadership. Facial…

Here is the COVID-19 scorecard for Friday, Oct. 7. The scorecard is published each Friday. For reference, last week’s COVID-19 inpatient total was 77 patients. Just over a month ago, on Sept. 2, the inpatient total was at 153. You can also view the scorecard at www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. For reference, our COVID-19 inpatient total last week was 113, so we have seen a big decrease this week. You can also view the scorecard at www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. For reference, our COVID-19 inpatient total last week was also 113. You can also view the scorecard at www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. For reference, our COVID-19 inpatient total last week was 138, and the scorecard on Aug. 19 showed 159 COVID-19 inpatients. You can also view the scorecard at www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. You can also view the scorecard at www.balladhealth.org/medical-services/infectious-disease.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. NOTE: We have not included COVID-19 vaccine rates – both for the region and our hospitalized patients – because available data is incomplete. Booster shots, which have a significant influence on an individual’s likelihood of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, are available at other providers and might not be reflected in Ballad Health records. Additionally, the number of boosters people should have will differ, depending on each person’s age and health factors, and will thus impact reporting.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. NOTE: We have not included COVID-19 vaccine rates – both for the region and our hospitalized patients – because available data is incomplete. Booster shots, which have a significant influence on an individual’s likelihood of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, are available at other providers and might not be reflected in Ballad Health records. Additionally, the number of boosters people should have will differ, depending on each person’s age and health factors, and will thus impact reporting.

Due to the rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the region, Ballad Health has reinstituted its COVID-19 scorecard, to be distributed each Friday until further notice. NOTE: We have not included COVID-19 vaccine rates – both for the region and our hospitalized patients – because available data is incomplete. Booster shots, which have a significant influence on an individual’s likelihood of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, are available at other providers and might not be reflected in Ballad Health records. Additionally, the number of boosters people should have will differ, depending on each person’s age and health factors, and will thus impact reporting.

We will be releasing an updated COVID-19 scorecard each Friday, until further notice.

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Tuesday, July 26, 2022 TITLE: Implementation of contingency staffing ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. Click here to view this memo as a PDF file. COVID-19 inpatient cases: 132 COVID-19 patients in ICU: 27 COVID-19 patients on ventilators: 10 Pediatric inpatients with COVID-19: 5 Due to an increase in community transmission of COVID-19, and to the ongoing clinical staffing resource limitations, Ballad Health will upgrade to contingency staffing for team members who test positive for COVID-19, effective Tuesday, July 26. Ballad Health continues to remain in contingency staffing for all team members who have a high-risk exposure. Contingency staffing is applied when increased clinical staffing needs are occurring or are expected due to quarantine measures. High-risk areas, such as cancer centers and oncology units will follow conventional guidelines when determining if COVID-exposed team members can return to work. Team members working with the…