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@salemhealth.org

503-814-7250

Fax: 503-814-7253

 

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