Facial Covering Policy
Purpose: In efforts ensure health care choices for residents and visitors in accordance with current law, Name of ALF or AFCH Assisted Living implements a facial covering policy (Mask Policy) while recognizing that Florida law provides for exceptions to the business prohibitions on face coverings. This policy takes into account the exception provided for in law for health care related facilities.
Policy: It is the policy of Name of ALF or AFCH Assisted Living to allow residents, families, and guests with the freedom to make their own choices to live a free and unrestricted life at Name of ALF or AFCH Assisted Living. In doing so we will continue to provide a policy that provides for choice and independence in accordance with Florida Law.
Facial Coverings: Mask or other facial coverings shall be required only when a resident is in a common area and exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
Facial Coverings/Mask are Appropriate in the Following Circumstances Only:
1. Health care practitioner and/or health care providers may choose to require a resident to wear a facial covering only when the resident is in a common area of the health care setting and is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.
2. Health care practitioner and/or health care providers may choose to require a visitor to wear a facial covering only when the visitor is:
a. Exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
b. In sterile areas of the health care setting or an area where sterile procedures are being performed;
c. In treatment rooms or the resident’s room who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission; or
d. Visiting a resident whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a resident and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the resident’s safety.
Opt-Out Provisions for Facial Coverings or Mask:
(a) Residents at Name of ALF or AFCH can opt-out of wearing a facial covering.
(b) Visitors to Name of ALF or AFCH can opt-out of wearing a facial covering if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available.
(c) A Name of ALF or AFCH employee shall be allowed to opt-out of facial covering requirements unless the employee is:
- Conducting sterile procedures,
- Working in a sterile area,
- Working with a resident whose treating health care practitioner has diagnosed the resident with or confirmed a condition affecting the immune system in a manner which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from employees without signs or symptoms of infection to a resident and whose treating practitioner has determined that the use of facial coverings is necessary for the resident’s safety,
- With a resident on droplet or airborne isolation, or
- Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require facial coverings to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.
DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS POLICY AND APPLICABILITY TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
The implementing Statute for Facial Coverings is located in 408.8022 , F.S.
(1) The “Authorizing statute” means the statute authorizing the licensed operation of a provider listed in s. 408.802 and includes chapters 112, 383, 390, 394, 395, 400, 429, 440, and 765.
(2) “Common area” refers to areas in a health care setting where residents are not treated, diagnosed, or examined.
(3) “Employee” refers to any person under employment or contract of a health care setting, including health care practitioners, administrative staff, maintenance staff, aides, contractors, students, and volunteers.
(4) “Health care setting” refers to any place where health care practitioners and/or health care providers practice their profession or provide services.
(5) “Resident” refers to a person receiving services from a health care practitioner or health care provider.
(6) “Sterile areas” refers to locations where surgery is conducted or where procedures that require aseptic techniques are performed.
(7) “Sterile procedure” refers to aseptic procedures with the goal of minimizing the risk of microbial contamination to reduce the rate of invasive or surgical site infection.
(8) “Visitor” refers to any person in a health care setting who is not an employee or resident of the health care setting.
Definitions contained in the Agency’s “Health Care Licensing Procedures Act.”
(1) “Provider” means any activity, service, agency, or facility regulated by the agency and listed in 408.802, F.S.