HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, interview, and document review, the hospital failed to follow Minnesota Executive order 20-51 and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) screening guidelines to actively screen staff upon entering the hospital. This had the potential to impact all patients, visitors and staff at the hospital.

Findings include:

The Minnesota Executive Order 20-51 https://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/execorders/20-51.pdf dated 5/5/20, directs, "Facilities must conduct active health screening of all staff (e.g., providers, medical assistants, support staff, environmental services staff) at the beginning of each shift, patients, and visitors entering the facility, to assess for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Screening must include assessment for symptoms associated with infection, as recommended by the CDC." CDC: Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare settings updated 5/18/2020, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html directs, "Screen all HCP at the beginning of their shift for fever and symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Actively take their temperature and document absence of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. If they are ill, have them keep their cloth face covering or facemask on and leave the workplace."

On 7/8/20 at 9:00 a.m. hospital employee screener-D stated that he screens visitors to the campus at this entrance regularly, and he does not screen for fever by taking and recording temperatures of visitors.

On 7/8/20, at 10:25 a.m. during the hospital tour of both campus locations, it was observed that the hospital had ten patients who were currently COVID-19 positive or being ruled out for COVID-19.

During an interview on 7/9/20, at 7:50 a.m. registered nurse (RN)-E stated that staff members are not actively assessed for fever or symptoms of COVID-19 before they start work, but rather they attest electronically that they are free from symptoms by answering questions when they clock in for work, or when they log on to their computers.

During an interview on 7/9/20, at 8:30 a.m. RN-F stated that staff attest electronically that they are free from COVID-19 symptoms when they clock in or when they log on, but no one actively asks the COVID-19 symptoms questions or screens them for fever.

During an interview on 7/8/20, at 10:30 a.m. RN-G confirmed the hospital is not currently actively screening staff members or visitors for COVID-19 symptoms, but rather, staff are attesting to being free of symptoms electronically when they log in or clock in for their shift.

During an interview on 7/8/20, at 2:30 p.m. the infection preventionist (IP)-C confirmed that although the hospital is limiting visitors, the hospital is not actively screening staff or visitors for fever before they are allowed in the building. Staff are electronically attesting to their freedom from symptoms when they clock in and visitors are asked questions related to their freedom from symptoms when they present to the entrance doors. Neither staff nor visitors are actively screened for fever by actually taking their temperatures.

Although a policy related to active staff screening for symptoms of COVID-19 was requested, none was provided.