Transcript:
Hello everyone. Today, I want to talk about wearing masks, these executive orders for essential employees, and finally our benefits if we get sick.
In my Monday video, I mentioned that we are getting large shipments of PPE. Because we are able to replenish these supplies, for now, we can expand the use of surgical masks. Going forward, all team members who interact with patients, as well as those who work in other areas, such as registration, food and nutrition, environmental services and transportation – will receive masks to wear throughout the hospital, during their entire shifts. All clinical Baptist Medical Group team members will also receive masks, and non-clinical team members will wear masks when they visit our hospitals. We will also encourage non-clinical staff in other areas throughout the organization to wear masks as well. Your manager will have more information and education about the proper use of the masks.
Several of you have asked questions about the executive orders many cities have adopted that require all non-essential employees to stay home. First, every one of you is essential to Baptist, so we must continue to report to work, even while these executive orders are in place. If a law enforcement official asks why you are not complying with the order, simply show the officer your badge.
Our human resources team has received related questions about needing proof that we are exempt from these executive orders. They are creating a letter that verifies that you are an essential employee, and you can give that letter to child care providers or anyone else who requests it.
Now I would like to talk about how we’re handling COVID-19-related medical furloughs. Periodically, we place team members on medical furlough to protect patients, visitors and team members from the potential spread of infectious diseases. Recently, some of our team members were placed on this precautionary leave after the first COVID-19-positive patient was admitted to Baptist Memphis on March 1. Since then, our Employee Health team has been working closely with our Infection Prevention experts and our provider community to determine if other team members need to be furloughed.
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, please contact your manager and Employee Health Services for guidance. Our Employee Health Team will conduct an assessment and carefully investigate each situation to gain additional information and confirm the exposure. In accordance with the CDC and State Department of Health guidelines, and depending on your level of exposure, you may be placed on medical furlough for up to 14 days if you don’t have any COVID-19 symptoms.
If applicable, full-time, part-time, and PRN employees will receive full pay for their scheduled shifts for the duration of the medical furlough, provided they follow all medical guidelines set forth by Baptist, until a medical diagnosis is made.
Let’s talk about what happens if you test positive for COVID-19. You will begin to receive sick pay by Baptist.
Typically, to receive sick pay benefits, you have to use 40 hours of PTO first. We call this the “40-hour elimination period.” However, to help you preserve PTO during this unprecedented time, we are waiving that requirement, and your sick pay benefits will begin immediately after a COVID-19 diagnosis. Please note that we will only waive the 40-hour elimination period if you test positive for COVID-19. I hope this alleviates some of your concerns about this issue.
Given the potentially significant impact of the COVID-19 virus, we will provide eligible full-time team members who test positive with enough sick pay to cover a two-week period if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 and don’t have enough sick pay in their banks. This even applies to eligible full-time team members who have been here less than a year and have not received a sick pay benefit yet.
We have never done anything like this before. But this extraordinary time calls for unprecedented action. You are making tremendous sacrifices for our patients every day you step into our hospitals and clinics. And I am committed to providing you with as much support as we possibly can. If you have any questions about medical furlough, please talk with your manager, human resources office or employee health.
If you have any questions or comments for me, please email them to me. I truly value all the responses I have received from you so far, and I will continue to address your questions and concerns through these videos. Thank you for continuing to tune in, and I’ll be back on Friday.
