For all questions and concerns about exposures, quarantine and return to work, please call the COVID-19 Center hotline at 682-303-1661. This number is monitored by Infection Prevention and not Occupational Health. 

​

​PPE - What to wear and when...

PPE Guidance (Up​dated – Nov. 2, 2020)​​


***IMPORTANT Reminder***

COVID-19 Hotline Information: When and Who to Call

Have questions about COVID-19 or contact tracing? Please remember to call 682-303-1661 for COVID-19 health-related information, including exposures, quarantine, when you can return to work and symptom-related questions. Even though, Infection Prevention, led by Sharon Holmes, MPH, CIC, leads the process for contact tracing for employees and patients, please do not contact them directly. Use the above hotline number instead.  

  • The COVID-19 hotline is answered 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For afterhours, non-emergent issues or general questions, please leave a voicemail and your call will be returned in the morning.
  • For emergent issues afterhours, please call the hospital operator and have them page the Infection Prevention nurse on-call. 
  • Return to work paperwork and testing schedulin​g can only be done during business hours at the COVID center. 
  • Please remember the COVID-19 hotline is for employees only.

 ​Thank you for your cooperation. ​


STEPS FOR RETURNING TO WORK AFTER EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 (11/24/2020)
​To ensure the health and safety of our employees, patients and families, this is the process for when Cook Children's employees and staff can return to work following a COVID-19 exposure.

​A Cook Children's employee may return to his/her workplace after an Occupational Health exit interview, when one of the following has occurred:

  • Ten (10) days have passed since initial positive COVID-19 test and the employee is still without symptoms; OR
  • A minimum of 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, employee is ​fever-free for up to 24 hours without fever-reducing medications (fever = 100.4 degrees or higher), and there has been improvement in symptoms; OR
  • Employee has received a negative COVID-19 test from pre-procedure testing without known exposure.

    Once you are able to return to the workplace, you must wear a surgical mask in all areas from the start to the end of the shift.

    NOTE: Cloth masks are not acceptable; it must be a surgical mask or N95 depending on nature of work. Also remember eyewear (goggles, safety glasses, face shields) must accompany masks when patient facing in any situation.

​REMINDER: A close shave for masks
As we have previously shared:
  • Fit te​sting is not possible for anyone with a beard, so please shave before fit testing.
  • You must be clean-shaven to use an N95 mask.
  • PAPRs are only for use when approved by Occ Health or are medically necessary.​
    ​
​​​Fit testing for N95 respirators is ongoing currently in Occupational Health. 

Employees who perform procedures requiring N95 mask fitting, please sign up on the OH portal as soon as possible if you have not been fit into an Ameritech Pro Gear mask or been cleared since May 2020 to wear an alternate solution.

While m​ask fitting is not linked to your PACE at this time, it is important to get you into the right N95 mask as soon as possible.

Criteria for N95 use:

Those identified as individuals who will be providing direct care for suspected or confirmed + COVID-19 patients, for prolonged periods within 6 feet and/or performing aerosolized procedures to those patients.​


If you meet the criteria for needing a N95 and fall into these categories, you will need a mask fit appointment.

  • ​Employees who were mask fit with a 3M products: 1860, 1870
  • Employees who have NOT ever had a N95 Mask fitting
  • Employees who have not had a N95 Mask Fit done in last 12 months or who have had physical changes to facial area. (lost/gained weight, surgery, etc)
  • Male employees with beards who are currently using a PAPR

  • ​​You must become clean-shaven so you can use a N95 mask due to l​imited PAPRs in house.

​OH Portal is a single sign on: Lawson Home-Employee Self Service-Human Resources-Occ Health Portal-schedule an appointment link-pick next date and time available.

  • You must complete your OSH​​A form- this will immediately show up on your Occ Health Portal after the appointment is made.  All with * must be completed.

Until you can obtain a mask fit appointment, you will follow these instructions:

  • ​You will continue to use your past fitted mask size. 
  • Should your option become out of stock, you will use the mask fit crosswalk to find the next suggested option. 
  • Always perform a seal check each and every time you put on a N95 mask.



INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL UPDATE FOR COOK CHILDREN'S EMPLOYEES:

In accordance with the CDC's updated guidance, Cook Children's no longer requires a 14 day quarantine period for returning international travelers.

Read all of the important details and what you need to know and do here.


OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH FAQs (Revised July 13, 2020)


COMMUNITY EXPOSURES AND PTO (from email update - Aug. 10, 2020)

QUESTION: I went to a friend’s birthday party and now I’m positive for COVID-19 and need to quarantine. I don’t want to use my PTO because I’m saving it for the holiday season. Is it okay if I just take this time UNPAID or do I have to use my PTO?

ANSWER: Yes, you can take this time as UNPAID. When any employee is quarantined from a community exposure, the employee can CHOOSE to take the time they are quarantined and off work as UNPAID time, OR they can use their PTO balance. It is the employee’s choice.

 

QUESTION: I traveled abroad and now Occ Health told me I have to quarantine. Prior to my travels, I was working from home. My boss supports me working from home and I’m able to do my job completely from home. Do I have to take PTO while I’m home quarantining or can I receive my regular pay?

ANSWER: If you are feeling well enough to work your normal job and productivity is not an issue, you can quarantine at home, work your job and you will receive your regular rate of pay. You will NOT have to use your PTO in this situation.

​

REVISED S​TEPS FOR RETURNING TO WORK
AFTER EXPOSURE TO COVID-19
Updated July 21, 2020 

There has been a revision to the new 10-day process for when Cook Children’s employees can return to work. Changes are noted in yellow below.

To ensure the health and safety of our employees, patients and families, Cook Children’s has a NEW process in place for when Cook Children’s employees and staff can return to work following a COVID-19 exposure. Here is the information you need to know:

A Cook Children’s employee may return ​to his/her workplace after an Occupational Health exit interview, when one of the following has occurred:

  • Ten (10) days have passed since initial positive COVID-19 test and the employee is still without symptoms; OR
  • A minimum of 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, employee is fever-free for up to 72 hours without fever-reducing medications (fever = 100.4 degrees or higher), and there has been improvement in symptoms; OR
  • Fourteen (14) days have passed since returning from a high-risk travel area, even with a negative COVID 19 test result; OR
  • Employee has received a negative COVID-19 test from pre-procedure testing without known exposure.

Once you are able to return to the workplace, you must wear a surgical mask in all areas from the start to the end of the shift.​

NOTE: Cloth masks are not acceptable; it must be a surgical mask or N95 depending on nature of work. Also remember eyewear (goggles, safety glasses, face shields) must accompany masks when patient facing in any situation.​



Top 10 Details to Know About the New COVID-19 Occupational Health Hotline and Email Address

July 6, 2020
Dear Cook Children's employee,

We have some important and helpful COVID-19-related Occupational Health information for you.

We hope you will take a moment to read over this message. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Cook Children's Occupational Health

COVID19OHS@CookChildrens.org

For non-COVID-19 inquiries, write to Occ Health here: OccHealth@CookChildrens.org.




Occupational Health 

Updated: May 19, 2020*

*Approved by Command Center and sent to CCHCS​

Guidance on exposure to COVID-19 patients

Occupational Health and the Command Center have established and revised the guidelines for employees who have interacted with Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) and COVID-19 positive patients. We ask that you review the following documents to ens​ure that you are up-to-date on the most current procedures and expectations:

·        Guidance on When to Return to Work after Exposure

·        Guidance on Work Restrictions when interacting with COVID-19 patients and PUIs 

Please note that these are the latest approved guidance to follow and supersede previous guidance.​ 

​

​

​​