Mask Wearing Requirements for all Nicklaus Children’s Facilities

As of August 1, 2023, masks are required only in certain circumstances. Examples include persons exhibiting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease, in areas of the facility that are designated sterile, or if the applicable person will be around an immunocompromised patient. This policy applies to all Nicklaus Children's staff members, patients, and visitors two years of age and older. Patients and visitors can contact the patient’s healthcare team (e.g., the treating provider’s office or inpatient unit) and staff members can contact the Infection Prevention and Control Department at ext. 2399.

Patients

Patients will be required to wear a mask in the common areas of Nicklaus Children’s locations if the patient is exhibiting signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission.

  • In such circumstances, patients should ask for a mask upon arrival to Nicklaus Children’s or patients will be given a mask by a staff member.
  • Subject to Florida Statutes Section 381.026, if an alternative method of infection control is available, patients may opt out of such existing masking requirement by notifying a staff member and such request will be reviewed in consultation with the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control Department. Notwithstanding this opt-out provision, a patient may not opt out if:
    • opting out would infringe upon the rights of another patient and would risk the safety or health of other patients, visitors, or staff members (e.g., patient could transmit an infection to another patient), or
    • the patient is medically or programmatically contraindicated for documented medical, safety or programmatic reasons.

Visitors

Visitors will be required to wear a mask if the visitor is:

  • Exhibiting signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission;
  • In any sterile area of any Nicklaus Children’s location or an area where sterile procedures are being performed; • In an inpatient or clinical room with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of respiratory illness or has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission; or
  • Visiting a patient whose (i) treating healthcare practitioner has diagnosed the patient with an immunocompromising condition, which is known to increase the risk of transmission of an infection to the patient from others without signs or symptoms of infection, and (ii) whose treating practitioner has determined that masks are necessary for the patient’s safety.

If any of these circumstances apply, visitors should ask for a mask upon arrival to the Nicklaus Children’s location or visitor will be given a mask by a staff member.

Visitors may opt out of these masking requirements if an alternative method of infection control or infectious disease prevention is available. Visitors seeking to opt out in accordance with this policy shall notify a staff member and such request will be reviewed in consultation with the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control Department on a case-by-case basis.

Staff Members

Staff members should avoid entering Nicklaus Children’s locations if they are sick. Staff members include any person that is a Nicklaus Children’s employee, volunteer, student, resident, independent contractor, vendor, consultant, traveler, or any other person who provides any care, treatment, or other services (including clinical staff and physicians) to any Nicklaus Children's locations and/or patients of Nicklaus Children's locations. Staff members who are sick should contact their immediate supervisor, as applicable and in accordance with their department call out procedures, and the Employee Health Office (if on Nicklaus Children’s payroll) for further direction.

Staff members will be required to wear a mask if staff members are:

  • Conducting a sterile procedure;
  • Working in a sterile area or an area where sterile procedures are being performed;
  • Working with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms of respiratory illness, has a diagnosed infectious disease that can be spread through droplet or airborne transmission, or is on droplet or airborne isolation;
  • Working with a patient (i) whose treating healthcare practitioner has diagnosed the patient with an immunocompromising condition, which is known to increase risk of transmission of an infection from staff members without signs or symptoms of infection, to the patient, and (ii) whose treating practitioner has determined that masks are necessary for the patient’s safety; or
  • Engaging in non-clinical potentially hazardous activities that require masks to prevent physical injury or harm in accordance with industry standards.

Staff members may request to opt out of any Nicklaus Children’s Hospital existing masking requirements, except in circumstances set forth above, and such request will be reviewed by Employee Health Office in consultation with the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control Department on a case-by-case basis. Documentation of this process will be kept in the staff member’s employee health file, if applicable.

Nicklaus Children’s reserves the right to require the use of masks at all locations in other circumstances and consider other exclusions from all of the opt-out provisions in this policy, consistent with national and state standards, and state and federal laws, rules, requirements and regulations.

This page was last updated on: 7/31/2023 11:36:56 AM