Facial Covering for Infection Control Policy & Procedure
DEPARTMENT: All
Authorized: CEO of LifeStar Management
Date Created: 8/1/23
Delegation: Executive Directors
I. POLICY
In accordance with the Florida Statutes, Chapter 408.824 and the standards set forth in the Florida Administrative Code 59AER23-1 and 2, this community shall abide by the appropriate use of facial coverings for infection control by its residents, staff, visitors, and others coming into the community.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. “Common Area” refers to areas in a healthcare setting where patients are not treated, diagnosed, or examined.
B. “Facial covering” refers to a cloth or surgical face mask, a face shield, or any other facial covering that covers the mouth and nose.
C. “Employee” refers to any person under employment or contract in a healthcare setting, including healthcare practitioners, administrative staff, aides, contractors, and volunteers.
D. “Patient” refers to a person receiving services from a healthcare practitioner or healthcare provider. (For the purposes of this policy, the term “resident” is used to indicate persons residing in this community.)
E. “Sterile Area” refers to locations where surgery is conducted or where procedures that require aseptic techniques are performed.
F. “Sterile Procedure” refers to aseptic procedures with the goal of minimizing the risk of microbial contamination to reduce the rate of invasive or surgical site infection.
G. “Visitor” refers to any person in a healthcare setting who is not an employee or patient (resident) of the healthcare setting.
III. PROCEDURES
A. This community does not require universal use of facial coverings by persons in order to gain access to entry upon, service from, or admission to the community or otherwise discriminate against persons based on their refusal to wear a facial covering.
B. Persons who freely choose to wear facial coverings while within this community may do so based upon their personal preferences.
C. Facial coverings remain an important intervention in preventing respiratory bacterial and viral transmission. This community and its healthcare practitioners may choose to require a resident to wear a facial covering only when the resident is in a common area of the community and is exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or has been diagnosed as having, an infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
D. This community and its healthcare practitioners may choose to require a visitor to wear a facial covering only when the visitor is:
1. Exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplets or airborne transmission;
2. In sterile areas or an area where sterile procedures are being performed;
3. In a resident or clinical room with a resident who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission; or
4. Visiting a resident who has been determined to have a compromised immune system increasing their risk of infection or whose practitioner has determined a mask is necessary for their resident’s safety.
E. This community shall offer alternative methods of infection control or infectious disease prevention which may include social distancing, outdoor visitation, transparent physical barriers, or other alternative types of facial coverings.
F. As a healthcare provider, we will allow an employee to opt-out of a facial covering requirement unless an employee is:
1. Conducting sterile procedures,
2. Working in a sterile area,
3. Working with a resident who has been determined to have a compromised immune system increasing their risk of infection or whose practitioner has determined a mask is necessary for the resident’s safety.
4. With a resident on droplet or airborne isolation, or
5. Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.