General COVID-19 Non-Clinical Policies
As part of our ongoing efforts to contain and effectively treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19, we are instituting a number of system-wide policies that will impact our staff, patients, visitors and students. These changes are being implemented, on an ongoing basis, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, as well as the NY State and local Departments of Health, to ensure quick and appropriate response to this situation.
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
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Masking Policy –
Per Mount Sinai Health System policy, all individuals must use a mask in any Mount Sinai Health System facility, including administrative spaces, unless you are alone in a private office or eating in a designated area at least six feet away from other people.*The masking policy is not a return to work policy.
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Before visitor entry or any gathering, the organizer will ensure that a representative is stationed at the entry, with adequate hand sanitizer supplies and directions/signage, to ensure that each individual meets the following criteria:
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Symptom check: If anyone has had any of the following symptoms within the preceding 24 hours, they must be refused entry:
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Fever (temperature greater than 100° Fahrenheit)
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Chills
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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New onset persistent cough
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Nasal congestion & runny nose not associated with allergies
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Sore throat
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New loss of taste or smell
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Nausea or vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Fatigue (new or not explained by a pre-existing condition)
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Headaches (new or not explained by a pre-existing condition)
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Generalized muscle and body aches (new or not explained by a pre-existing condition)
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Do Not Shake Hands
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Hand Hygiene: Even if previously done on entering the building or in prior meeting, Hand hygiene with hand sanitizer prior to entry into the room (if no sanitizer is available, the meeting should not occur.)
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Social Distancing: We strongly encourage you to maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and others.
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If any questions (for example, if you are unsure where to secure hand sanitizer for your meeting), please submit questions to CovidQuestions@mountsinai.org
Updated 6/22/22
Travel Policy
Printable version of our Travel Policy
Revised 3/23/22
PERSONAL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
WORK-RELATED DOMESTIC TRAVEL
New York State Department of Health guidance states that all asymptomatic health care workers may return to work after domestic travel without quarantine or testing.
All employees who are on visas must consult with International Personnel prior to departing the United States.
Completion of the RedCap Travel Registry is no longer required.
WORK-RELATED INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Work-related international travel is permitted but must be approved by the Department Chair or Institute Director. Travelers and their departments should remain cautious of COVID-19 related risks of international travel including fluctuating country entry/exit requirements, COVID-19 variants and surges, vaccination rates, and isolation protocols. Most countries require a minimum of 10 days of isolation for anyone testing positive for COVID-19, while some may require two negative tests (can take up to 90 days) before infected people are allowed to leave the country. With this in mind, the traveler will ultimately decide whether they choose to assume the risks associated with international travel at this time. The Office of Global Operations is available to assist travelers and their departments in assessing the safety of international work-related trips and can provide travel safety considerations and advice prior to travel.
If work-related international travel is approved, the traveler must register each trip with International SOS, Mount Sinai's emergency medical and security assistance provider. You can contact International SOS (+1 215-942-8226) at any time for travel safety advice or in the event of an emergency using Mount Sinai's membership number (11BYSG000018). Only work-related international travel must be registered with International SOS, NOT personal travel.
COVID-19 Testing FAQs for Employees and Students
Updated 1/6/22
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Where can I get tested for COVID-19 when I return from travel?
Fully vaccinated health care workers do not need a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test to return to work after travel. Mount Sinai faculty and staff members, students, and trainees who wish to be tested should use the asymptomatic testing program. You can also find testing sites through the NYS testing site locator. -
Can I go to a Mount Sinai emergency room for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing?
The Mount Sinai emergency rooms should not be the primary source of testing for asymptomatic employees. Please see above for testing locations. -
Can I work/attend classes while I am waiting for my test results if I am symptomatic or had a high-risk exposure?
If you are symptomatic, you may not work or attend classes in person. It is important that you quarantine until yo their supervisor.
If you are asymptomatic and had a high-risk exposure, you should work and attend class. And you must do this:
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Perform SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing no sooner than 2 days after the exposure. If the result is negative, test again 5 days after the exposure.
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Monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the exposure. If you develop symptoms, immediately notify your supervisor, leave the work or school setting, and contact EHS/Student Health for testing.
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Mask at all times and social distance when you are on site.
Lectures, Events and Meetings Policy
Meetings and Events
As of June 1, 2022, The Mount Sinai Health System, including the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, is allowing onsite in-person meetings, conferences and events. Masks must be worn during meetings and events. Outside guests may be permitted on campus to Mount Sinai sponsored events or meetings as long as they are fully vaccinated. When appropriate, virtual options should be made available for remote staff and non-Mount Sinai attendees.
All Mount Sinai events (on and off campus) that are held inside with food and/or drinks with over 50 people, the following are required:
- Mandatory checking of compliance with full vaccination status. Boosters are strongly recommended but not required;
- Masking at all times during the event except when eating/drinking;
- Recommendation that everyone do a PCR within 72 hours or home antigen test within 24 hours of the event;
- Virtual options when possible
Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Policy – Effective March 24, 2022
The following policy guidelines are in place for volunteers, students from other institutions and observers within the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS). All volunteers and students from other institutions permitted onsite at MSHS must comply with COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Local supervisors will be responsible for overseeing compliance with infection prevention guidelines. Hospital Presidents or Chief Medical Officers may impose site-specific restrictions and departmentally led programs may also impose programmatic-specific restrictions. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (2 weeks past the 2nd dose of the Pfizer/Moderna vaccine or the 1st dose of J&J). Exemptions from COVID-19 vaccination will not be considered.
Currently Registered Volunteers:
Volunteer programming is resumed. The pace of re-opening depends on site-specific capabilities. Employee Health Service (EHS) clearance is required for all volunteers.
New Applications:
Applications for new volunteers are resumed. See other detail in Currently Registered Volunteers above.
Students:
MSHS continues to honor its commitment to students of other institutions currently participating in an educational experience for academic credit at MSHS. All programs offering experiences for academic credit should have an agreement in place between MSHS and the sponsoring institution. Please email the Contract Policy and Review Office (CPRO) at CPRO@mssm.edu for an agreement template and details about how to execute the agreement. Departments/programs are also now permitted to host students who seek a less structured experience which isn’t directly tied to academic credit. Students must be fully vaccinated prior to starting onsite activities.
For any student visa-related questions, please contact Hamel Vyas the International Personnel office at Hamel.vyas@mountsinai.org. Please note that foreign nationals are not permitted to volunteer unless they are on a F-1 student visa and have obtained permission from their sponsoring school to engage as per their required Curricular Practical Training (CPT) as well as a CPT endorsement on their I-20. A foreign national enrolled in a US accredited school who does not have a F-1 student visa, may still volunteer IF the activity is required by their curriculum and their school and would need to provide a letter confirming that this is required activity. In both cases there must be an agreement in place with Mount Sinai and the school.
Observers:
Programs or requests for individual domestic or international observers remain suspended.
Volunteer Office Contacts:
MSH: Shari Kaplan (shari.kaplan@mountsinai.org)
MSQ: Ana M. Rodriguez (ana_m.rodriguez@mountsinai.org)
MSBI and NYEE: Christine Pescatore (cpescatore@NYEE.EDU)
MSW: Andres Moreira (Andres.moreira@mountsinai.org)
MSM: Amy Bush (amy.bush@mountsinai.org)
MSSN: Anne Marie Fernandez (AnneMarie.Fernandez@snch.org)
MS Brooklyn: Emilie Shore (Emilie.Shore@mountsinai.org)
Vendors, Consultants and Press Policy
Requirement for Vendors, Contractors and Other Guests of Mount Sinai
All vendors, contractors and other guests coming to a Mount Sinai location must be fully vaccinated to be onsite. This includes but is not limited to: press, photographers/videographers, contractors, supply and construction managers, contractors, architects and engineers, subcontractors all trades and other guests. There are NO exceptions and applies to all Mount Sinai locations (inpatient and ambulatory).
Vaccination status must be verified by the company working on the Mount Sinai Health System site. Managers must determine the best way to monitor compliance (including Vendormate, eBuilder etc). Proof of vaccination status should be available to present upon arrival to a Mount Sinai location.
(Updated 12/27/21)
Cafeteria and Food Services Policy
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Main cafeterias will be restricted to those with a Mount Sinai ID only. Cafes and smaller on-site food options will remain open to all, staff permitting. We are implementing this to protect our patients and visitors from large gatherings and to protect our staff. At a point of entry, as worked out by each site, patrons will be asked to show ID and to use hand sanitizer before entry.
Designated Meal Rooms
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MSHS Designated Meal Rooms - updated 1/27/22
New Policy on Gifts
During this crisis, many major companies want to thank the front line health workers for their dedication and service to our communities by making gifts of their products and services. As part of our continued support of our employees, we are relaxing our stringent no gift policy to allow Mount Sinai to accept gifts from organizations other than current healthcare vendors. Leadership will distribute these gifts as appropriate across the health system or the local sites, depending on the gift and donor. Please direct any donors to donations@mountsinai.org.