Connect

 Many inpatient and ambulatory clinic teams are being impacted as COVID rates are on the rise in Virginia, and as we embark on flu season. Please review the following guidance as we navigate this period and if you have any questions, please escalate through your help chain.

 Patient Care:

• Patients may request that their healthcare providers wear a mask, whether during ambulatory appointments or within the hospital.  
• Ask patients about their masking preferences. 
• Ensure that mask and sanitizer stations remain stocked.  
• Information on flu and covid vaccines for patients will be forthcoming. 

Team Members:  

If you have cold symptoms and are scheduled to work:

• If you are scheduled to work and have general cold symptoms (runny nose, mildly sore throat, fatigue, etc.) you may continue to work but please wear a mask and wash your hands frequently for 10 days after the start of symptoms.  
  
• You may test for COVID. Options for testing include:  
  • Home COVID test kit 
  • Walk-in testing at Employee Health, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. 
  • Your primary care provider
  • A same-day appointment at a UVA Health clinic (Primary Care Riverside, Same-Day Care at 1222 JPA, etc.) or other urgent care

• If you develop additional concerning symptoms such as fever/chills, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea, follow these steps:
  • Stay Home: It is important to stay home to prevent the spread of illness to colleagues and patients.
  • Notify Your Supervisor: Inform your supervisor or manager as soon as possible that you won’t be able to come to work.
  • If you think you might need testing, options include:
    • Home COVID test kit
    • Walk-in testing at Employee Health, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.
    • Your primary care provider for COVID or concerns about other illnesses
    • A same-day appointment at a UVA Health clinic (Primary Care Riverside, Same-Day Care at 1222 JPA, etc.) or other urgent care for COVID or concerns about other illnesses 
  • Consult a healthcare provider, such as:
    • Your primary care provider. This is important for considering illnesses beyond COVID.
    • Make a same-day appointment at a UVA Health clinic (Primary Care Riverside, Same-Day Care at 1222 JPA, Virtual Care, etc.) or other urgent care.
    • Employee Health is not available for primary care, but does provide COVID testing and guidance about absences and return-to-work.
  • Follow RTW Guidelines: See Employee Health return-to-work guidelines for COVID and general illness. These may include staying home until you’re symptom-free or have completed any required testing. 

If you test positive for COVID-19 at home:

• Stay out of work and call Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

• For most people, return to work guidance is:
  • Symptomatic: Return to work after 5 full days (return on 6th day) from the start of symptoms as long as:
    • Fever has resolved x24 hours without antipyretics, and 
    • Symptoms are improving (may not be entirely resolved), and
    • You wear a mask and wash hands for 10 days total from the day that your symptoms began.
  • Asymptomatic: Return to work after 5 full days (return on 6th day) from the positive test as long as
    • You continue to have no symptoms or fever, and
    • You wear a mask and wash hands for 10 days total from the day of the positive test. 

• If you work primarily with highly immunocompromised patients, please inform Employee Health. Modified guidance may be necessary. 

• If you are immunocompromised, you may need to wait to return to work. Employee Health will provide guidance based on your individual circumstances.   

Getting vaccinated:

• Flu vaccines are required for team members per Health System Policy OCH-002. Vaccines clinics will be held at various University Medical Center locations starting  Sept. 24. See Connect for more information.

• The COVID vaccine is not required by health system policy but is strongly encouraged. The vaccine is not available from Employee Health currently, but planning is in progress for a COVID vaccine clinic for team members. In the meantime, you may seek one from your healthcare provider or local pharmacy.