Dear Colleagues,
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COVID-19 Cases: |
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BMC Total Inpatients |
83 |
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BMC Inpatients Requiring ICU Care |
15 |
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Cumulative Staff Who Have Tested Positive |
1,826 (as of 12/30) |
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Massachusetts Cases |
1,091,147 |
Click to see the most up-to-date city, state, and national numbers: Boston | Massachusetts | United States
REMINDER: Updated Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine
Based on recent CDC guidelines and in line with our peer hospitals, the following is now our process for employees returning to work after testing positive for COVID:
- Employees must be fever-free, without the use of antipyretics, for 24 hours and either be asymptomatic or have improving respiratory symptoms.
- Employees may return to work after five days (full 24-hour periods) have elapsed since symptom onset or positive test, and no testing is required.
- Employees must be cleared by the COVID-19 Working Well Clinic. After clearance, employees may return to work.
We will continue to follow CDC testing guidelines closely, as these timelines may continue to change.
Please note that we are currently on version 21 of the “COVID-19 Employee Health Concern Response” document – also called the Employee Exposure Response. All other versions should be discarded.
NEW: Do Not Use the Emergency Department for COVID-19 Testing
In recent weeks, there has been a sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital and the ED, and we expect this to continue for the next few weeks.
Our Emergency Department is extremely busy at this time, and we need everyone’s help to support them and other teams dealing with this surge. If you have a patient who needs a COVID-19 test for any reason, but especially for travel or if the patient is asymptomatic, please do not send them to the ED. A limited number of tests are available for patients at the ILI Clinic (801 Mass Ave, Crosstown building) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., or you can encourage patients to make an appointment or walk in at a state or local testing site.
Additionally, please do NOT go to the Emergency Department or to the huts outside the ED for COVID-19 testing for yourself. More information about employee testing is below.
REMINDER: COVID-19 Employee Testing Process
Getting tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms, are exposed to someone with COVID-19, have traveled recently, or just for peace of mind is one of the best ways we can continue to help keep our patients, communities, and each other safe. More information on scheduling testing can be found on the Hub.
Please ensure that you have a BMC medical record number if you intend to get tested at BMC. If you are not currently a BMC patient, call Patient Registration at 617-414-6060 to register in Epic and sign up for MyChart. Patient Registration is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. A direct conversation is required to register for a BMC medical record number (MRN).
All employee testing is by appointment only:
- Symptomatic testing for employees with symptoms or exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 is available seven days a week. Email COVID19WWC@bmc.org to schedule an appointment.
- Asymptomatic testing for indirect exposures and post-travel is available seven days a week. Email COVID19WWC@bmc.org to schedule an appointment.
- Asymptomatic testing for pre-gathering, pre-travel, and peace of mind: employees can self-schedule an appointment through MyChart. If you are an existing BMC patient and do not have a MyChart account, click here to register. Appointments are available Monday through Friday during the day at the Crosstown ILI Clinic, 801 Mass Ave. ground floor. If you don’t see any available appointments, please try again later, as we will open appointment slots throughout the day.
To receive your test results as soon as possible, please enroll in MyChart. You may self-clear to work with a negative result.
REMINDER: COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Recommended for Everyone
Recent studies suggest that COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are crucial in protecting people against the Omicron variant. The sections of Infection Prevention and Infectious Disease strongly recommend that all employees and LIPs to get one to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
People who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are encouraged to get a booster shot as soon as possible, while those who got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get their booster six months after their second dose. Appointments for BMC and BUMG employees can be scheduled through this link, which can also be found on the Hub.
REMINDER: Updates to Our Visitor Policy Effective Today, January 3
Effective today, January 3 , BMC is enforcing the following changes to the visitor policy:
- Adult inpatient units: Med/Surg inpatients who are COVID-negative will be allowed to have one visitor per day between noon and 7 p.m.
- Labor and Delivery: One support person at a time will be allowed during the patient’s delivery and postpartum stay. Children under 18 years old will not be permitted to visit.
- Adult Emergency Department: No visitors will be permitted.
The most up-to-date visitor policy can be found in multiple languages on the Hub and on BMC.org.