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

[Steivang, Kristen]

We require those indicating they are on medication and should be exempted from caring for TB patients to submit documentation from their healthcare provider.  We are currently able to accommodate these physician requests.

Kristen

Kristen L. Steivang MSN, RN, ANP-BC, APNP
Employee Health Services
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital Madison
700 S Park St.
Madison  WI 53715
608-258-6995
Fax 608-259-3239

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From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces+kristen.steivang=ssmhealth.com at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Jordana L. Mcdonald
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2018 11:14 AM
To: mcoh-eh at mylist.net
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Revisiting Policies regarding Immune-Suppressed Employees and Duty Exemptions

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the SSMHealth organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Questions? Contact the TSC at 314-644-7345 or your local Help Desk.

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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