Charlie,
We have created a SharePoint form that management can report ALL employees with symptoms electronically. Employees are instructed to test for COVID promptly (at their cost). If negative for covid and symptoms continue, then they are requested to test for covid again. After 2nd negative if employee is still having moderate to severe symptoms, i.e. not meeting our return to work criteria, then they are strongly encouraged to their healthcare provider for treatment and return to work. We do not have a provider in our Employee Health clinic so we must rely on the employee seeking treatment from their healthcare provider. Employee Health RN’s are still managing this process closely.
We are struggling with these same issues, however the only way to confirm that it is “just a cold’ is to test for COVID.
Thank you for initiating this conversation.
Jennifer
Jennifer Carr
System Employee Health RN Nurse Coordinator
Email: carrj@monhealthsys.org
Office: 304-285-2207
From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Charles Hackett
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 3:15 PM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Covid Testing
Throughout covid our employees have been asked to call eohs to review their symptoms and test when appropriate for covid and then manage rtw based on the cdc guidance for hcws.
We are now getting pushback from the same groups that wanted that approach to why call eohs when we need staff and colds are prevalent
My questions
If an employee is sick are they required to contact eohs?
If they have respiratory symptoms / covid symptoms does eohs review, test for covid , covid/ flu and manage rtw
Do you test for covid at all
Do you have employees call eohs at all.
As always
Thank you
Charlie
Charles D Hackett, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Employee and Occupational Health, Lifespan
Chief Community and Family Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Brown University
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