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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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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feeling feverish
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new-onset persistent cough
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nasal congestion
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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
Visitor Policy
Due to the escalating COVID-19 emergency, we are prohibiting all visitors across the Mount Sinai Health System, including visitors to the emergency departments, inpatient units (including postpartum), ambulatory sites and other facilities. These restrictions are being put in place for the safety of our patients, caregivers and community.
There are limited policy exceptions for HEALTHY visitors, including:
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Labor and Delivery: One healthy visitor, no rotation.
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Pediatrics and Pediatrics ED: One healthy visitor.
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NICU: One healthy adult visitor for the duration of the hospitalization, no rotation.
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End of Life situations: One healthy visitor for the duration of the hospitalization, no rotation, as long as we can ensure visitor and staff safety.
If a visitor shows any symptoms, staff will politely ask them to leave and provide appropriate follow-up information.
We will support connection to family and friends through virtual means such as phone, FaceTime, Skype or Zoom meeting. By doing this, we aim to meet our patients and their families’ needs while ensuring a safe environment.
Thank you for your understanding in these very difficult times. Please check the visitor policy for updates prior to your visit.
Student Policy
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For ALL Students: No students will be allowed to provide front-line care to known or suspected cases of COVID-19.
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For visiting Medical Students: We are temporarily not accepting any new incoming visiting students, both domestic and international.
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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.
Lectures, Events and Meetings Policy
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Due to the escalating COVID-19 emergency, effective March 19, we are expanding our restrictions on lectures, events and meetings.
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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, remain open under this policy but we are restricting the size of meetings and also limiting visitors.
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As of March 19, we are asking everyone to limit sizes of any remaining administrative meetings to a small group (10 or less).
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All in-person meetings of 10 or below, should only be held if they are essential and need face to face communication - and all organizers should aim to convert meetings to a virtual means of communication.
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We recommend proactively cancelling – or converting to virtual - all non-essentials meetings through March 31st.
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Any meetings that do occur in person must follow the strict COVID-19 Safety Guidelines at the top of this page.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Volunteers: Individuals who are registered with the Volunteer Department as volunteers and are actively providing services are subject to the following:
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In patient care areas: Volunteers who provide services in patient care areas will no longer be permitted to do so.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Observers: (Domestic and International): All observer programs are discontinued. International Observers should make appropriate arrangements regarding their return home.
Vendors, Consultants and Press Policy
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Representatives from vendors, outside consultants and the press are not permitted on site at Mount Sinai with the following exceptions:
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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).
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Any representatives who is determined to be essential by Carlos Maceda, Susan Mashni, Mike McCarry or Lucia Lee in advance of their arrival on site will be permitted on site.
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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.
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Consultants who function on site in a manner equivalent to employees may be permitted on site.
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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
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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.