Facial Coverings for Infection Control
Per 59AER23-2 Standards for the Appropriate Use of Facial Coverings for Infection Control in Florida these are the guidelines for mask usage in the facility:
(1) Health care practitioners and health care providers may choose to require a patient to wear a facial covering only when the patient is in a common area of the health care setting and is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
(2) Health care practitioners and health care providers may choose to require a visitor to wear a facial covering only when the visitor is:
(a) Exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission monitored by the entrance screening tool/kiosk,
(b) In sterile areas of the health care setting or an area where sterile procedures are being performed,
(c) In an in-patient or clinical room with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission, or
(d) Visiting a patient whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the patient with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a patient and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the patient’s safety.
(3) Opt-Out Requirements are as follows:
(a) Pursuant to 59AER23-2(1), health care practitioners and health care providers who choose to require a facial covering for any patient must include in the policy a provision for the opting-out of wearing a facial covering. Such policy must be in accordance with the Florida Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, section 381.026, F.S. If a resident chose not to wear a facial covering, they must be educated on the importance of mask usage during an infectious process and when they may be exposed due to a facility wide outbreak and documented in the care plan and in a progress note acknowledgement of education and risk. Residents with a current infectious disease spread through droplet or airborne must remain on isolation until cleared by the physician or may choose to discharge from the center to recover in the community.
(b) Pursuant to 59AER23-2(2), health care practitioners and health care providers who choose to require a facial covering for any visitor must include in the policy a provision for the opting-out of wearing a facial covering if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available. Options for visitation with no mask usage when required by CDC standard for droplet or airborne infection is outdoor visits, Skype or Facetime virtual visits, and window visits for residents on isolation.
(4) Health care practitioners and health care providers must allow an employee to opt out of facial covering requirements unless an employee is:
(a) Conducting sterile procedures,
(b) Working in a sterile area,
(c) Working with a patient whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the patient with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a patient and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the patient’s safety,
(d) With a patient on droplet or airborne isolation, or
(e) Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.
(f) Employees are allowed to wear masks for their own health reasons such as health concerns due to being immunocompromised or co habituating with someone who is immunocompromised or any other reasonable concern.