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
-
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:
-
Symptom check: If anyone has had any of the following symptoms within the preceding 24 hours, they must be refused entry:
-
feeling feverish
-
new-onset persistent cough
-
nasal congestion
-
Do Not Shake Hands
-
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.)
-
Social Distancing: We strongly encourage you to maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and others.
-
If any questions (for example, if you are unsure where to secure hand sanitizer for your meeting), please submit questions to CovidQuestions@mountsinai.org
Visitor Policy
As of June 20th, Mount Sinai will begin welcoming visitors back to the hospitals. Please note, at this time the Emergency Room remains closed to visitors. The visitor policy for the Mount Sinai Health System is as follows:
The Mount Sinai Health System Visitation Policy must be strictly adhered to as per guidelines from the State Department of Health.
-
Visiting hours will be determined by the facility.
-
Visitor name and contact information, the date of the visit and the name of the patient being visited will be recorded and maintained in an electronic format.
-
All visitors must be greater than 18 years of age, any exception will be determined by the hospital.
-
Visitors will be directed for a symptom and temperature check upon entry and shall be denied entry if they report significant COVID-19 exposure or symptoms during the prior 14 days or have a temperature greater than or equal to 37.8o C or 100.4o F.
-
Visitors are provided with and must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-
All visitors must wear a face covering or mask during their visit. Masks with valves are not permitted. A mask will be provided if the visitor does not have one or has one with a valve.
-
Clinical staff will advise visitors on how to perform meticulous hand hygiene and reinforce the appropriate way to wear and remove PPE.
-
All visitation will be limited to a total of four hours per day per patient, unless otherwise authorized by the Hospital, depending on the patient’s status and condition.
-
Visitors will be limited to one person at a time. A limited number of additional persons will be permitted only when appropriate and at the discretion of the hospital.
-
Patients undergoing ambulatory procedures may be accompanied to the facility by a companion and that companion may remain with the patient through the initial intake process and may rejoin the patient for the discharge process.
-
Visitors may not be present during procedures and recovery room except for pediatrics, childbirth, and patients with an intellectual, developmental, or other cognitive disability.
-
Once in the facility, visitors must remain in the patient’s room throughout the visit except when directed by hospital staff to leave during aerosol-generating procedures or other procedures during which visitors are usually asked to leave.
-
Visitors who fail to adhere to any of the above procedures will be asked to leave the facility.
-
Health care providers will thoroughly discuss the potential risks and benefits of the visitor’s presence with visitor and, depending upon the patient’s condition, the patient.
-
Visitor policy information is posted on our webpage. This information will also be made available by signage at entrances and via social media.
Please note, the visitor policy may be adjusted to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors.
Hospital Visitor Hours
-
Mount Sinai Brooklyn: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
-
Mount Sinai Beth Israel: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
The Mount Sinai Hospital: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
Mount Sinai Morningside: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
Mount Sinai Queens: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
Mount Sinai West: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
Mount Sinai South Nassau: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
UPDATED VISITOR POLICY – 6/20/20
Student Policy
-
For ALL Students: No students will be allowed to provide front-line care to known or suspected cases of COVID-19.
-
For visiting Medical Students: We are temporarily not accepting any new incoming visiting students, both domestic and international.
-
For visiting Non-Medical Students: Physician assistant, nursing, or other non-medical students performing rotations at our facilities will NOT be allowed to provide front-line care to patients with known or suspected cases of COVID-19.
Social Media Policy and Toolkit
-
Social Media Policy – guidelines for Mount Sinai Health System staff on participation in social media activity.
-
Social Media Toolkit – provides links to images, videos and other content which can be used to effectively promote health information related to the COVID-19 public health crisis on social media channels.
Lectures, Events and Meetings Policy
-
Due to the escalating COVID-19 emergency, effective March 19, we are expanding our restrictions on lectures, events and meetings.
-
All in-person large group lectures, events and meetings across the health care system should be cancelled or offered virtually. This includes, but is not limited to, grand rounds, educational classes, administrative meetings, and clinical meetings. To be clear, the Mount Sinai Health System, including the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, remains open under this policy but we are restricting the size of meetings (under 10) and also limiting visitors.
-
We recommend proactively cancelling – or converting to virtual - all non-essentials meetings.
-
Any meetings that do occur in person must follow the strict COVID-19 Safety Guidelines at the top of this page.
-
If someone believes a lecture, event or meeting should be a rare exception to this policy (e.g., a blood drive), please submit a request to Vicki LoPachin at vicki.lopachin@mountsinai.org.
Volunteer Policy
-
In response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the following policy guidelines have been established for external volunteers, students from other institutions and observers within the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) effective Thursday, March 19, 2020. Important: All volunteers, students from other institutions and observers permitted to remain onsite at MSHS must comply with the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines.
-
Pending Applications for Volunteers, Students from other institutions rotating to MSHS, Observers: No pending or new applications will be processed until further notice. Note: The supervisors of students from other institutions with pending applications may request and exception to this policy by emailing a justification to the Department of Volunteer Services (DVS) at VolunteerDept@mountsinai.org.
-
Volunteers: Individuals who are registered with the Volunteer Department as volunteers and are actively providing services are subject to the following:
-
In patient care areas: Volunteers who provide services in patient care areas will no longer be permitted to do so.
-
Volunteers who do not work in patient care areas: Research, administrative and other volunteers assigned to non-patient care areas may continue participating at their supervisor’s discretion, unless otherwise notified by MSHS.
-
Volunteer assignments: MSHS plans to maintain a list of registered volunteers, particularly those who are no longer providing volunteer services because of the restrictions, so that they can be deployed throughout the institution, if necessary.
-
Students: MSHS will continue to honor its commitment to students currently participating in an educational experience for academic credit at MSHS. MSHS may adjust this commitment at any time to ensure student safety, operational integrity or any other institutional priority.
-
Observers: (Domestic and International): All observer programs are discontinued. International Observers should make appropriate arrangements regarding their return home.
Vendors, Consultants and Press Policy
-
Representatives from vendors, outside consultants and the press are not permitted on site at Mount Sinai with the following exceptions:
-
Representatives who perform essential services that must be performed on a Mount Sinai Health Care System site, will be permitted on site, but solely for the purpose of providing those essential on-site services (e.g., equipment maintenance and support).
-
Any representatives who is determined to be essential by Carlos Maceda, Susan Mashni, Mike McCarry, Reginald Miller or Lucia Lee in advance of their arrival on site will be permitted on site.
-
Professionals who perform essential functions (e.g., outside counsel, accountants and auditors, etc.) may be permitted on site if essential to the operation of the institution with the permission of a senior vice president.
-
Consultants who function on site in a manner equivalent to employees may be permitted on site.
-
Any individual who is permitted on the premises is subject to the same restrictions and requirements as employees, including the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines at the top of this page.
Cafeteria and Food Services Policy
-
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.
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.