Date: April 22, 2021

The Digest - GW Clinical Enterprise
GW MFA | GW Hospital | GW SMHS
Continuing Safe and Proper PPE Usage

As a reminder, every health care worker must follow proper PPE usage, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated or not.

Please continue to wear a medical mask at all times, washing hands often, and eye protection in any patient care areas or in other areas where 6 feet of distance between individuals cannot be maintained. Additional PPE is required for higher-risk situations. In D.C., the department of health (DOH) requires compliance with these measures, with risk of significant penalty for failure of individual and/or institutional compliance.  
REMINDER: Change to Health Care Worker Vaccinations

Changes include:
 
  • Based on guidance from DC Health, the District of Columbia has opened up its vaccination eligibility to all DC residents 16 years and older. Since April 19, DC Health is no longer providing vaccinations to health care workers who live outside of the District. All of DC Health’s COVID-19 vaccine doses are allocated for DC residents only. Health care workers who live in Virginia or Maryland should get vaccinated in their home state. 
 
What this change means for GW health care workers:
  • As of Monday, April 19, the GW Hospital/MFA are unable to provide first doses to our healthcare workers who live in Virginia or Maryland. In addition, GW healthcare workers who are DC residents can receive their vaccine at the Washington Convention Center.

Details on where to get vaccinated by location: 
  • Maryland Residents: As of April 12, all Maryland residents 16 years old and older are eligible for vaccination through all providers including Maryland’s mass vaccination sites. Learn more and register here: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine.
 
 
 
Get Vaccinated!
We want all of us to be safe from COVID-19 and we firmly believe that vaccination is the best way to do that. We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
 
The GW Medical Faculty Associates
Updated MFA Ambulatory Pre-Visit Testing Guidance

With the added safety of COVID-19 vaccinations, fully-vaccinated patients will no longer be required to have COVID-19 testing prior to MFA ambulatory procedures/tests, unless clinically indicated. Previously, these COVID-19 tests were required before certain MFA ambulatory procedures or diagnostic tests. Healthcare workers should still wear appropriate PPE. The updated guidance can be found here.
GW Hospital
Update to COVID-19 Employee Testing in the ED

Employee Health Services is removing the email address ([email protected]) that was used to schedule COVID-19 testing in the ED.

If an employee needs a COVID-19 test, please go to the GW testing center, located at The GWU Lerner Health and Wellness Center (2301 G St., NW).
The GW SMHS
REMINDER: Wearing a mask is required in Ross Hall
This email is intended to serve as a digest of all messaging for our clinical faculty, students, and staff. This email is distributed at the close of business each Thursday, as we are managing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If you have feedback, please feel free to send to [email protected]