SPOKANE, Wash. — As flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are on the rise, MultiCare Health System will be requiring masks in patient care areas in all their facilities in the Inland Northwest.
This mask policy took effect immediately in all MultiCare facilities including Deaconess and Valley hospitals.
Over the past week, MultiCare has passed the threshold for regional emergency department visits for RSV and the flu. This threshold was set and mandated by the Northwest Healthcare Response Network.
If you are in a MultiCare facility, it is required that all patients, visitors and staff wear a mask inside the hospital or any emergency departments. These areas include:
Patient floors and hallwaysPatient exam roomsFront desk/check-in areasDuring any patient interactionsOncology clinics and waiting rooms
For MultiCare Rockwood Clinics, masks are required for employees but are strongly recommended, not required, for patients and visitors. For any high-risk clinics, like oncology, masks are required regardless of its location.
The Northwest Healthcare Response Network has worked together to come up with guidelines for masking criteria for this year’s respiratory season. The criteria for the region’s masking policy include:
COVID-19 admissions exceed 10 people per 100,000 populationRegional emergency department (ED) visits for COVID-19 exceed 3 percent of total visitsRegional ED visits for influenza exceed 1 percent of total visitsRegional ED visits for RSV exceed 0.3 percent of total visits
As the masking mandate is in place, these requirements can be changed or lifted based on geographic areas that go two weeks without meeting the criteria listed above.
For more information about RSV or the new policy set in place, go to the MultiCare website.
