[MCOH-EH] Revisiting Policies regarding Immune-Suppressed Employees and Duty Exemptions

[Thrasher, Terri (Terri)]

If using appropriate ppl and safety behaviors there is no reasdon they cannot work with a th patient
Terri
Cincinnati Children's hospital



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-------- Original message --------
From: "Jordana L. Mcdonald" <Jordana.Mcdonald at salemhealth.org>
Date: 3/6/18 12:14 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Revisiting Policies regarding Immune-Suppressed Employees and Duty Exemptions

Hello Everyone:

This was a topic a couple of weeks ago and did not get much response.  I wish to revisit it because I now have an employee with RA on Xeljanz requesting that she be exempted from N95 mask fit testing because she does not believe that she should be caring for patients with TB.  My facility does not appear to have any policies around this and in checking it with Infection Prevention they are concerned that creating such exemptions would create further issues with staffing isolation rooms.  Additionally, we have no idea how many other employees are on similar medications or chemotherapy, though with the aging workforce, I would guess we would expect the incidence of such cases to increase over time.  Should they be exempted only from TB, should they be exempted from all isolation cases?  Does this become another issue like claustrophobia which requires that the various units determine if ability to care for isolation patients is a core job function (so far we are working on the ability to wear an N95 or CAPR related to the claustrophobia).

I would appreciate any input.

Thank you all for this lively group.  Jordana

Jordana McDonald FNP-c
Salem Health Employee Health/Occupational Medicine
Salem Health Medical Group

SALEM HEALTH
Hospitals & Clinics
1002 Bellevue Street SE
Salem, OR 97301
Jordana.mcdonald at salemhealth.org<mailto:Jordana.mcdonald at salemhealth.org>
503-814-7250
Fax: 503-814-7253

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