Facial Coverings Policy

EDUCATION PROVIDED REGARDING PLAN OF CARE, MEDICATIONS, IMMUNIZATIONS, SAFETY AND INFECTION CONTROL. Policy:
The center will follow current infection control policies and procedures the direction of health care providers/practitioners, on the use of facemask for staff, residents, and visitors.

Procedure:

1. Center will review infection control policies and procedure to determine the need for facemask
2. In addition, the center requires facemask for the following:
   a. Residents when in a common area of the center, who are experiencing signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can spread through droplet or airborne transmission
   b. Visitors who are experiencing signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can spread through droplet or airborne transmission
   c. Visitors in a room with a resident who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can spread through droplet or airborne transmission
   d. Visitors in a room of a resident who has been diagnosed with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system the use of facemask is necessary for resident safety
   e. Staff/contractors or Healthcare practitioners during sterile procedure or in a sterile area
   f. Staff/contractors or Healthcare practitioners while working with a resident diagnosed or confirmed condition affecting the immune system
   g. Staff/contractors or Healthcare practitioners assisting a resident on droplet or airborne precautions
   h. Staff/contractors or Healthcare practitioners engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm, in accordance with standard precautions
   i. If the center is experiencing an outbreak of an infectious disease that is spread through droplet or airborne transmission, Residents when outside of their room and staff who may have exposed or working in the area experiencing the outbreak will wear a face mask for 10 days or until the outbreak resolves. Visitors will wear a face mask if visiting a resident who has been exposed or visiting the area experiencing the outbreak.
3. The center has established opt-out for residents, visitors and staff/contractors or healthcare practitioners
   a. Residents: Staff and/or healthcare practitioner will provide information on the use of a facemask, the resident may choose to not wear a facemask, resident will remain in his/her room for duration of illness (transmission based precautions). If the resident must leave the room during this time, the staff will wear a facemask
   b. Visitors: If a visitor cannot or chooses to not wear a face mask, the visitor is asked to defer non-urgent visitation. The visitor may also choose outdoor visitation and physically distance, to decrease the risk.
   c. Staff/contractors and healthcare practitioners may choose to not wear a facemask unless infection control policies and procedures and current industry standards advise otherwise, including:
   i. During sterile procedure or in a sterile area
   ii. While working with a resident diagnosed or confirmed condition affecting the immune system
   iii. Assisting a resident on droplet or airborne precautions
   iv. Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm, in accordance with standard precautions
   v. If the center is experiencing an outbreak of an infectious disease that is spread through droplet or airborne transmission, staff who may have exposed or working in the area experiencing the outbreak will wear a face mask for 10 days or until the outbreak resolves.
   d. The center will educated the staff/contractors and healthcare practitioners on the risk associated with not wearing a mask.