Over the last few years the staff at Greene County Medical Center has worked together to keep patients, families, visitors, team members and healthcare providers safe and healthy by implementing masking requirements in the facility. Effective Friday, April 22, Greene County Medical Center’s masking requirements have been updated to better align with the Greene County transmission rate. Greene County is currently in a low transmission rate, as of April 22.
“The safety of our patients, visitors and team members continues to be key in our decision making process,” said Chad Butterfield, Greene County Medical Center CEO. “We understand the importance of reducing the viral transmission to our patients, visitors and team members and the vital role masking plays in this goal. With that said, our leaders came together last week in agreement that now is an appropriate time to relax our masking requirement as Greene County’s transmission rate is low.”
Moving forward, masking requirements will correlate with the Greene County transmission rate. There may be instances when Greene County Medical Center will elevate the masking requirements based on an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Masks remain required in long term care, and team members will continue to mask when providing direct care to patients whether Greene County transmission rate is low, medium or high. Team members who are exempt from the Medical Center vaccination requirements (unvaccinated) must remain masked with face shields regardless of the Greene County transmission rate.
Patient / Visitor Masking Requirements:
When the Greene County Transmission Rate is low or medium the following masking requirements will be in effect.
–Mask are required if the patient or visitor is experiencing respiratory symptoms.
–Masks are required if the patient or visitor has been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 10 days.
–Masks are required if the patient or visitor has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days regardless of symptoms.
–Masks are required in all areas of long term vare.
–Masks are optional for patients and visitors in patient rooms, exam rooms, waiting areas, and hallways.
When the Greene County Transmission Rate is high the following masking requirements will be in effect.
–Masks are required for all patients, visitors and team members in all areas of the Medical Center and Long Term Care.
The Greene County public health department, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, will determine and publish the transmission rate based on their predetermined criteria. Greene County Medical Center wants to remind the community that if community transmission levels increase, masks will again be required at the Medical Center. These changes reflect the nature of COVID-19 and Greene County Medical Center’s new normal as navigation of the pandemic continues in a healthcare setting.
