New CA Health Order Regarding Unvaccinated Workers in Healthcare Settings

Recently, the California Department of Public Health issued a new state-wide public health order that will require nearly everyone in the hospital – from employees to physicians and vendors – to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or to be tested twice a week. The order goes into effect Monday, August 9, 2021, and exempts hospital patients and their visitors.

WHO IS IMPACTED?

The state order applies to all "healthcare workers", defined as, but not limited to: nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the healthcare setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel)

What the order means for your clinicians:

• If your clinicians have been vaccinated at an HCA Healthcare facility, their vaccine has been recorded and no further action is necessary. If other action becomes necessary, we will keep you updated on next steps. 
• If your clinicians received their vaccination outside an HCA Healthcare facility, please make sure you can access proof of vaccination, usually the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, CDC or WHO Yellow Card). Acceptable forms of proof include the original card, a photo or paper copy, or a digital copy on their phone or other electronic device. Additional acceptable forms of proof can be found on the FAQ page of the state’s vaccine website. In the coming days we will follow up with details about how to provide proof of vaccination.
• If your clinicians have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination, or if they have not completed a full series of one of the three types of vaccines (a full series plus 14 days), or if they choose not to do so, they will be required to be tested for COVID-19 twice per week with a negative result. A positive test result will result in them being required to quarantine. They must also be instructed on how to properly wear an N95 mask. Details on the testing and mask-fitting procedures will follow in the coming days.
• Vaccine availability. As the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and our own infectious disease experts have shared, vaccination is a vital step to protect individuals from the COVID-19 virus. For information about where to get the vaccines, please visit https://myturn.ca.gov/.

Why is this order being implemented?

The order comes in response to California’s rise in COVID-19 cases due largely to the highly contagious and possibly more virulent COVID-19 Delta variant. Unvaccinated persons are more likely to get infected and spread the virus and most current hospitalizations and deaths are among unvaccinated persons. California's healthcare system is currently able to address the increase in cases and hospitalizations; however, additional statewide facility-directed measures are necessary to protect particularly vulnerable populations, and ensure a sufficient, consistent supply of workers in high-risk healthcare and congregate settings.

Our team is working quickly to ensure compliance for all of those affected by the public health order and will provide more information on the verification and testing processes in the coming days. 

As this pandemic – and subsequent protocols – continue to evolve, I appreciate all you do. Your dedication and commitment to providing a safe environment for our clinicians, patients and communities inspires me daily.

Sincerely,

Jodi Cook
VP, MSP Program Operations