Coronavirus

NOTE: As the situation in our community evolves, so will our plan. Please check back frequently for updates and if questions arise please contact Drs. Ballester (513-254-3626) and Dupre (502-232-0862). If you ever need to miss an ED shift or think there is a possibility, notify the respective chief so we can arrange coverage as quickly as possible.

WSU Emergency Medicine Residency COVID 19 Plan (click to open): CHECK THIS FREQUENTLY AS WE EXPECT IT TO CHANGE.

Bottom Line: You must follow the guidance of ED in which you are working regarding the requirements for seeking testing, reporting to work, PPE and returning to work if you tested positive.

Simplified Approach: If you meet any of the criteria that would require testing per the guidelines of the ED in which you are working

-Inform the Chief Resident and PD/APD immediately so that coverage plan can be initiated

-Seek Testing via Home Rapid Testing, Community Testing, WPAFB, Kettering Employee Health or DCH

-If COVID Testing Negative: Report to work, unless you feel so unwell you still need to call off or meet criteria at the ED in which you are working that prohibits your return

-If COVID Testing Positive: Inform the Chief Resident and PD/APD and follow the guidelines for the ED in which you are working for returning to work

MVH Policy (Last Updated 12/30/2021)

Effective immediately, Premier Health policy will follow the CDC CONTINGENCY guidelines for managing return to work dates for health care personnel who test positive for COVID-19.

· Staff who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic or whose symptoms are mild and improving with no fever >100.00 F (without fever-lowering medications) within 24 hours prior to returning to work, may return to work on Day 5 (where the first day of symptoms is Day 0). Observe strict mask use for five additional days.

· Vaccinated and unvaccinated staff who are exposed at work and are asymptomatic may continue to work with strict mask use. Employee Health will order two tests, one on Day 2 and one on Day 5 through 7 (where the day of exposure is Day 0). Home test kits and drugstore antigen or rapid tests are also acceptable for testing as long as the results are NEGATIVE. If the result is positive, a PCR test should be done to confirm the positive result. A copy of the test result or photo must be sent to employeehealth@premierhealth.com, along with the employee’s name and contact information.

· Staff who have been boosted, if exposed at work and asymptomatic, may continue to work and must observe strict mask use for 10 days.


Kettering policy (last updated 5/9/2022)

    • Employees are no longer required to call Employee Health for a COVID-19 test referral.

    • Employees are to seek testing from their PCP or Community PCR Testing site

    • Employees are to:

      1. Call Employee Health with their witnessed PCR COVID-19 test results (At home antigen test results will not be accepted for removal from work).

      2. Forward a copy of their PCR test result to Employee Health.

Effective 5.9.22- Employee Health will adapt to the CDC testing model for earlier return to work

  • If Employee Tests COVID +

    • Employee is to contact Employee Health with positive PCR test results and Employee Health will assist with calculating their ten day quarantine and return to work date.

      • If Employee demonstrates resolving symptoms, Employee can retest with Kroger Little Clinics or Community Test Site on day 6 or 7 using a rapid Antigen Test (Home Tests will not be accepted).

      • If Negative Rapid Antigen on day 6 or 7 and resolving symptoms they may return to work upon clearance from Employee Health on day 8

      • If Employee Rapid Antigen Test remains COVID + on day 7 they will need to serve out the remainder of the initial 10 day quarantine period.


Employee Health will notify the employees leader of the documented positive COVID-19 test result and return to work date.

Base policy (last updated 10/26/2021)

Duration of isolation and precautions:

For most adults with COVID-19 illness, isolation and precautions can be discontinued:

  1. 10 days after symptom onset, and -

  2. After resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing

medications, and

  1. With improvement of other symptoms.


For adults who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.




EM Residency Sick Leave:

Each resident is allowed 15 days of sick leave per academic year. If a resident is unable to report for duty for any rotation, he/she must call the departmental office, the attending on service and the EM Program Director. For ED rotations, this should be the Chief Resident, the attending on duty and the Program Director. Military Residents please also contact the military PD. If an illness requires absence for more than one day/shift, it is imperative that the same process of reporting takes place for each day/shift missed.

The Resident WILL BE required to make up any missed shifts at a later date.

*This policy also applies to any time off due to COVID.

Absences due to severe illness of longer than the allowed 15 days per academic year will be handled on an individual basis by program leadership in accordance with ACGME policy. If the resident's COVID test is negative and the resident feels too ill to work, coverage will be provided using the call system with the shift made up at a later date. If the COVID test is negative and the resident feels well enough to work (mild symptoms), it is ok for them to return to work in accordance with the assigned hospital's policy and with the reminder to always wear a mask and wash hands frequently

General hygiene recommendations

  • You should receive one surgical mask per ED shift unless it is soiled or used in an aerosolizing procedure. Wear it at all times while in the ED but do not walk the halls with it on outside of the department/unit. Place it in the paper bag provided when taking it off to eat/drink or leave the department/unit.

  • These are by no means all inclusive. Reference CDC guidelines (some included in residency plan document) and protocols at the shop you are currently working at.

  • Cleaning with Oxivir or other available cleaning wipe.

  • Clean your workspace when you arrive for your shift including your phone/vocera and dragon microphone and when you finish your shift (in case your replacement doesn’t).

  • Clean your stethoscope between patients especially those with respiratory symptoms.

  • Wear the currently recommended PPE into any patient room with respiratory complaint.

  • Try to maintain as much distance as possible from the patient. When examining them for example, stand behind the patient while listening to heart and lung sounds so you are not directly exposed to potential respiratory secretions. Otherwise it is okay to stand at a distance.

  • Strongly recommended to use hospital scrubs for your shifts that you can change out of prior to leaving. Avoid wearing articles of clothing that you do not plan to change out of or wash after each shift.

  • As often as practical during a shift wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Continue to always foam in/out!

  • Avoid contact with your face as much as possible.

N95 Masks

  • Keep them safe. Keep them clean.

  • If you wear it during an encounter/procedure with risk for aerosolization make sure you are wearing a surgical mask over it to reduce contamination as much as possible. Afterwards dispose of the surgical mask BUT KEEP YOUR N95!

  • While there may be PAPR available in the ED, do not rely upon it. As COVID 19 becomes more common in the community anyone that cannot wear an N95 (ex due to facial hair) will be excluded from care when it is required and PAPR is not readily available.

  • NO N95s acquired from the Air Force are to be put into the recycling pathway at any of our civilian hospitals.

WSU Mental Health Resources Acute Stress Call Line

  • Available from noon-8pm

  • 937-775-8140