Purpose
To provide guidelines for the appropriate use of facial coverings within the surgery centers for the purpose of infection control.
Policy
In accordance with the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) and the Department of Heath’s (DOH) Standards for the Appropriate Use of Facial Covering for Infection Control (AHCA Rule 59AER23-2 & DOH rule 64DER23-6), patients, visitors and staff can be asked to wear facial coverings/masks at the surgery centers under certain circumstances. However, there must be a process for such individuals to opt out of wearing a mask, with certain exceptions.
Procedure
Patients
Health care providers/practitioners may require patients to wear a facial covering only:
- when the patient is in a common area and
- is exhibiting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission or has been diagnosed with such a disease.
If a patient is required to wear a facial covering under the circumstances above, the patient must be allowed to opt out of wearing the facial covering.
Note: if the patient is exhibiting symptoms of ANY active infection, they may be asked to reschedule their planned surgery/procedure until symptoms have resolved and infection has cleared, due to a variety of medical considerations, not related to mask adherence.
Visitors/Vendors/Reps
Health care providers/practitioners may require visitors, vendors and reps to wear a facial covering only if:
- they are exhibiting signs or symptoms or have a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
- in sterile areas or an area where sterile procedures are being performed.
- in a clinical room or area with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms or has been diagnosed with an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
Visitors, vendors & reps must be allowed to opt out of wearing a facial covering if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available.
Employees
Health care providers/practitioners may require employees to wear facial coverings in any setting at any time. However, if facial coverings are required, employees must be allowed to opt out unless the employee is:
- conducting sterile procedures.
- working in a sterile area.
- working with a patient with a confirmed condition of the immune system that increases the risk of transmission of an infection from asymptomatic employees when the patient’s treating physician determines the use of facial coverings are necessary for the patient’s safety.
- working with a patient on droplet or airborne isolation.
- engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards (OSHA, for example).
Accreditation
