Jackson Health System Masking and Facial Covering Policy

1. To ensure the health and safety of our patients, employees, and visitors, face masks will be required under certain circumstances, such as when a patient, visitor, or employee is exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.

• This policy applies to all patients, visitors, and employees two years of age and older.

2. Facial coverings and other personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations and/or requirements may be reviewed and reassessed with national and state standards, and state and federal laws, rules, requirements, and regulations in the event of a community and/or national outbreak.

• The standards and protocols in this policy will govern in the event that the hospital, clinic or health system encourages or requires the use of facial coverings at any of its locations.
• Unless otherwise noted, all other JHS policies, procedures, and guidance that encourage or require the use of facial coverings are subject to the standards, protocols, and provisions herein.

3. This Policy does not apply to the use of personal protective equipment that are recommended and/or required for chemical or physical hazards, nor operating rooms or procedural areas where the standard of care is wearing a mask.

1. Patients

• In certain circumstances JHS requires the use of facial coverings.
• In certain circumstances, patients may be required to wear a mask in the common areas of the facility locations if the patient is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.

2. Visitors

In the event that JHS requires the use of facial coverings, visitors may be required to wear a facial covering in certain circumstances if the visitor is:

• Exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
• In any sterile area of a hospital location, including where surgeries, or procedures that require aseptic techniques, are performed;
• In an in-patient or clinical room with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission; or
• Visiting a patient whose treating healthcare provider has:
  • Diagnosed the patient with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase the risk of transmission of an infection to the patient from others without signs or symptoms of infection; and
  • Determined that the use of a facial covering is necessary for the patient’s safety.

• Employees should avoid entering the facility if they are sick.
  • Employees who are sick should contact their immediate supervisor and the Occupational and Employee Health Office (OHO).
• Employees will be required to wear an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-certified medical/surgical mask (ASTM F2100) or NIOSH-approved respirator if they ARE:
  • Interacting with a patient in a clinical setting,
  • Conducting sterile procedures,
  • Working in a sterile area,
  • Working with a patient whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the patient with, or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a patient and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the patient’s safety.
  • With a patient on droplet or airborne isolation, or
  • Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.

Jackson Health System reserves the right to require the use of facial coverings at the facilities in other circumstances consistent with national and state standards, and state and federal laws, rules, requirements, and regulations.

1. According to Fla. Stat. § 381.026, section (4)(a)4 of the Patient Bill of Rights:

• “A patient in a health care facility has the right to retain and use personal clothing or possessions as space permits, unless for him or her to do so would infringe upon the right of another patient or is medically or programmatically contraindicated for documented medical, safety, or programmatic reasons.”

2. In the event that JHS encourages or requires the use of facial coverings at any of its locations, then visitors, patients, team members and professional staff members may opt-out from wearing facial coverings as follows:

• If an alternative method of infection control is available, patients and visitors may opt-out of any existing facial covering requirements by notifying a provider, and such request will be reviewed consistent with the hospital’s infection control procedures.
• Employees may opt out of any facial covering requirements by notifying employee health, and such requests will be reviewed by JHS’ Infection Prevention team.

3. Notwithstanding, the opt-out provisions herein, in the event that JHS requires the use of facial coverings at any of its locations, the following exclusions shall apply:

• If there are no alternative methods of infection control or infectious disease prevention, a patient may not opt-out of any facial covering requirements in the following circumstances:
  • A patient has been diagnosed or is exhibiting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
  • Opting out has been identified by a provider as being medically or programmatically contraindicated for medical, safety or programmatic issues; or
  • Opting-out would otherwise infringe on the rights, and would risk the safety or health, of other patients, individuals or staff/employees of the hospital.
• If there are no alternative methods of infection control or infectious disease prevention, a visitor may not opt-out of any facial covering requirements in the following circumstances:
  • The visitor has been diagnosed or is exhibiting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
  • Opting-out would otherwise infringe on the rights, and would risk the safety or health, of other patients, individuals, or staff/employees of the hospital; or
  • There are no alternative methods of infection control or infectious disease prevention.

4. An employee may not opt-out of any facial covering requirements if the employee is:

• Conducting a sterile procedure, including aseptic procedures or surgeries, that call for practices that minimize the risk of microbial contamination to reduce the rate of invasive or surgical site infection;
• Caring for a patient or being present while sterile procedures are being performed, including aseptic procedures or surgeries;
• Working in a sterile area of any hospital location, including where surgeries or procedures that require aseptic techniques are performed;
• With a patient who is on droplet or airborne isolation;
• Working with a patient whose treating health care provider has:
  • Diagnosed the patient with, or confirmed, a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase the risk of transmission of an infection to the patient from others without signs or symptoms of infection and:
  • Determined that the use of a facial covering is necessary for the patient’s safety;
• Engaging in potentially hazardous activities that require a facial covering to prevent infection, injury or harm in accordance with national, state, and industry standards, and state and federal laws, rules, requirements, and regulations.

5. The hospital reserves the right to consider other exclusions from the opt-out provisions in order to comply with applicable state and federal laws, rules, requirements and regulations.