Reminders on Methodist Masking Requirements, COVID-19 Best Practices, Immunizations, Returning to Work

Universal Masking

The Methodist Health System (MHS) masking policy outlined below reflects the most current recommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• MHS requires masks to be worn by employees, vendors, volunteers, patients and visitors at hospitals and other facilities that provide direct patient care while they’re in patient care areas and/or areas accessible to the public.
• For individuals who are fully vaccinated, masking is not required in nonclinical, nonpublic areas, including office spaces, break rooms, cubicles and conference rooms.
• For individuals who are unvaccinated and/or are not up to date with vaccinations, masking is required at all MHS facilities.
• KN95 masks are available for unvaccinated employees and can be obtained through normal supply requests.
• Refer to the MHS masking policy for other exceptions.

COVID-19 Reminders

The symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you do develop symptoms of COVID-19, testing is available.

• Home-based tests are accepted and can be obtained from:
  • https://www.covid.gov/tests
  • Local drugstores and grocery stores
• Call your Employee Health office, and they’ll order testing at a Methodist Urgent Care location.
  • Methodist Hospital: (402) 354-5684
  • Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital: (712) 396-4158
  • Methodist Fremont Health (402) 727-3775
  • 825 Building: (402) 354-6496
• Commercial testing locations (pharmacies and testing services)
• Local health department websites

If you test positive:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that all health care workers who test positive for COVID-19 notify their Employee Health departments.
• Employee Health notification can be done over the phone or via email (Contact info: https://mhsintranet/Main/MHS-Employee-Health.aspx).

Employees who test positive may return to work as follows:

• At least five days have passed (10 days for Dunklau Gardens employees) since symptoms first appeared. (Day ZERO is when symptoms first appear.)
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
• Contact your supervisor when ready to be added to the schedule. Employee Health does not need to be contacted upon return to work.
• Upon returning to work, masks must be worn while around others, including other employees while in nondirect patient care areas (total of 10 days of isolation and/or mask usage)

There are instructions and a COVID-19 screening form available on the MHS Intranet page.

COVID-19 Immunizations

It’s important that all employees turn in all vaccination records including boosters and additional doses to Employee Health for this data to be accurate. Copies of your COVID vaccination card, including pictures taken with your phone, can be emailed to MHS.EmployeeHealth@nmhs.org.

More information can be found here.

Returning to Work After Illnesses Other Than COVID

Employees returning from an absence due to any documented or probable infectious reason must be cleared to return to work by Employee Health. More information.