BMC’s Yawkey building doors are now closed as an entrance as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our campus and provide you with the best clinical care.

All patients and visitors on our main campus must enter our hospital via Shapiro, Menino, or Moakley buildings, where they will be greeted by team members at a new centralized check-in desk before continuing to the hospital. We are excited to welcome you and appreciate your patience as we improve our facilities.

Operations and Clinical Update: January 27, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

COVID-19 Cases:

BMC Total Inpatients

75

BMC Inpatients Requiring ICU Care

17

Cumulative Staff Who Have Tested Positive

 2,815 (45 new since 1/24)

Massachusetts Cases

 1,466,315

Click to see the most up-to-date city, state, and national numbers: Boston | Massachusetts  | United States

NEW: COVID-19 Testing Changes for This Weekend 1/29 and 1/30

Due to the impending snowstorm, no employee COVID-19 testing will be available at BMC on Saturday, January 29.

On Sunday, January 30, employee testing will be available at 710 Albany St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both drive-through (via the garage) and walk-through (via the street level entrance) options will be available at 710 Albany St. and no appointment is necessary.

Regular testing hours will resume on Monday.

NEW: COVID-19 Therapeutics Now Available for Certain High-Risk Employees

BMC is now able to offer both antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatment to COVID-positive employees who meet eligibility requirements for these treatments. If you test positive for COVID-19 at a BMC testing location, you may receive a phone call from the therapeutics team offering treatment.

Antiviral and monoclonal antibody treatment is available at BMC only to employees who meet at least one of the following criteria:

REMINDER: Mask and PPE Information for Employees and LIPs

All employees and LIPs must continue to follow BMC’s PPE guidelines, including wearing masks in all administrative/non-clinical and clinical areas of campus buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

For the care of COVID-19-negative patients, our Infection Control and ID teams have approved the use of either a well-fitting surgical mask or a KN mask that the hospital has purchased, as well as protective eyewear and gloves. KN masks are available in patient care areas for those who have difficulty with the fit of surgical masks.

The key element for masks is optimal fit. When fit correctly, surgical masks and KN masks provide a equally strong levels of protection for wearers in terms of filtration. Visit the Hub for a list of BMC-approved ways to ensure your mask fits properly, including “ear savers,” which are now available to staff in patient care areas.

For the care of COVID-19-positive patients, please continue to wear an N95 mask, face shield, a gown, and double gloves for all patient encounters.

Due to the increased demand, BMC Supply Chain Operations will be reviewing and approving supply requisitions for certain PPE items. All supply requisitions should be submitted in BMC's Financial/Supply Chain system, Infor via Requisition Self Service (RSS). Learn more about ordering PPE on the Hub.

NEW: COVID-19 Boston and MA Trends

We are continuing to see favorable trends in the COVID-19 data:

  • MA positive COVID-19 cases have declined 50 percent since the peak two weeks ago.
  • Wastewater data continues to decline. After rising to 750 percent of the January 2021 peak two weeks ago, the seven-day average is down to 140 percent of the January 2021 peak.
  • MA COVID-positive hospitalizations have peaked and have now declined by seven percent during the past week. Approximately half of the hospitalized COVID-positive patients in MA are hospitalized for COVID-related illnesses, with the other half being classified as incidental (hospitalized for something else but testing positive).

NEW: Changes to COVID-19 Testing Huts

As testing demand declines, we are continually evaluating volume and staffing of the various testing locations on campus. The testing hut outside the Emergency Department is now closed. The pediatric testing hut (the red structure near the ambulance bay) will now accommodate symptomatic adult patients, asymptomatic pediatric patients, and pediatric patients with mild symptoms. These patients, as well as asymptomatic adult patients, can also be seen at the ILI Clinic.

Pediatric patients with more serious COVID-19 symptoms should be tested by their provider or in the Pediatric Emergency Department. 

REMINDER: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Workplace Requirement

Boston Medical Center is following CDC guidance and requiring all employees and LIPs receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes individuals working off-site (at-home, out-of-state, and off-campus), residents, students, interns, vendors, volunteers, and on-site contracted personnel.

In order to meet the compliance requirement and maintain employment at BMC, you must receive the COVID-19 booster or an approved exemption by March 28, 2022. In the event that March 28 is sooner than five months after your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or two months after your J&J vaccine, your due date will be the Monday after the date when you become eligible for the booster.

Full compliance includes ensuring that your booster vaccination status is recorded in the Employee Health Portal. You can find detailed information about recording your booster status on the COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance page on the Hub.