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]]>Screening and testing employees for covid-19
One way to safeguard employees is to ensure that most workers are vaccinated. However, vaccination hesitancy is a significant and realistic problem. Moreover, vaccines do not work in all cases. Consequently, the need for early screening and isolating the individuals remains an effective strategy.
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Do businesses need to screen?
Screening is among the most effective strategies for preventing the spread of the infection. However, it is not legally mandatory for businesses to screen their employees. Nevertheless, HR managers and business owners must know that they still have the responsibility of ensuring staff safety.
There are a few more things to keep in mind when deciding whether employees must be screened or not. Firstly, office-going people are young to middle-aged adults, and many of them may carry the infection without any severe symptoms. Additionally, not all of them are vaccinated. Further, covid-19 may cause severe illness in some, though it is almost impossible to predict in whom it may cause life-threatening complications.
Thus, if someone catches an infection at the workplace, there might be some legal issues. Hence, for employers, perhaps the best strategy is to have all the infection prevention measures in place, along with regular screening. It is necessary both for ensuring employee safety and preventing legal problems.
Moreover, by regularly screening employees, business owners can also ensure that their place is safe for visitors and clients. This might be vital in these times.
Bests ways of preventing the covid-19 spread and screening methods
There is no single way of preventing covid-19 that will work in all cases. Thus, the importance of wearing masks, washing hands, cleaning the workplace remains as relevant as ever.
Businesses should carry out temperature checks of all the employees and visitors. Additionally, there is a need to educate staff about the infection. Education is vital, considering that symptoms may be mild in some individuals.
Another simple way of screening could be using a simple health questionnaire. For example, businesses can create a short digital form that employees must submit daily. It would also serve as a self-declaration and help employees feel responsible for preventing the spread of the infection.
Additionally, all employees should install health apps and contact tracing apps. It may be especially helpful when someone is diagnosed with an infection.
Testing options for covid-19
It is a good approach for businesses to have a contract with some diagnostic services specializing in covid-19 screening. At present, there are two types of tests commonly used, antigen-test/rapid test that provides results in about 15 minutes.
Another option is RT-PCR, which is relatively more expensive and takes longer to provide results. Nonetheless, many labs can provide test results in 24 hours. However, it is a highly accurate test.
The rapid test is generally good for screening workers regularly. However, if someone has symptoms or it is better to go for RT-PCR, as it is more reliable.
To conclude, as the number of covid-19 cases drops, many businesses reopen, and employees start coming to the office. However, it also poses specific challenges, as the covid-19 pandemic is far from over. Thus, businesses should use regular screening and testing as one of effective way to prevent the spread of the infection.
Covidchecktoday provides onsite testing for different businesses. Businesses can book online choose the time of their preference. If they choose the rapid antigen test, results become available in 10 minutes, and those of RT-PCR in 24 hours. Not only that, but the company also provides remote access to test results in the form of electronic health records (EHR), which minimizes the chances of any error.
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]]>The importance of Health mobile testing in event planning
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COVID-19’s impact on event planning
Despite the fact that the surge of the covid-19 pandemic had a huge negative effect on events, resulting in many cancellations, rescheduling, and difficulties adhering to government regulations, event planners have demonstrated incredible perseverance and adaptability in organizing amazing events even in the midst of a pandemic. As a consequence, there has been a flurry of positive advancements, and occurrences are expected to recur in 2022, indicating that event planning has a promising future.
Consumers, households, companies, event planners, organizations, and others have had to change since the beginning of the pandemic in 2019, and many new opportunities have arisen as a result of this adjustment, such as mobile covid testing, which COVIDchecktoday provides in a timely and efficient manner.
How does mobile COVID testing work?
How can mobile covid testing help event planners?
The pandemic has shown us that Covid’s nature is highly uncertain. Even with measures in place, it is impossible to forecast the future with 100% accuracy.
Event planners who don’t want to deal with the hassles of having to postpone or cancel events should invest in backup plans. In order to arrange future events successfully, they’ll need a flexible and responsive strategy, and this is where COVIDcheck today plays a huge role.
Whether the event’s location must be altered at the last minute, the number of attendees has changed, or the schedule needs to be modified, a mobile unit will remove the headache of finding a new testing provider since COVIDchecktoday can deliver units across the United States promptly. It is also possible to customize the program over the phone, removing any concerns about testing outside of typical business hours. The ability to test attendees nearby or at the door and receive results in a short period of time gives everyone a sense of security while inside the event, knowing everybody is Covid-free, while also saving the planner the time and effort of having to arrange and notify everyone that they must be tested ahead of time and show the results at the door.
So, if you’re organizing an event, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can work out the finest COVID-19 testing option for you.
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]]>Use of electronic health records (EHR) to track employee Health test results
Role of electronic health records in COVID-19.
COVID-19 has been a devastating public health emergency that has affected businesses of all sizes worldwide. Unlike other diseases, the infection requires monitoring in three phases.
The first phase involves a prevention protocol that aims at preventing employees from contracting COVID-19. If the infection could not be prevented, the second phase is an acute treatment protocol, wherein a COVID positive patient is treated with specific drugs including monoclonal antibodies to decrease symptoms and the risk of serious complications including death. The third phase involves a long-haul surveillance and treatment protocol that aims to monitor and treat the after-effects of COVID-19 infection. Many patients in fact experience a multitude of neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary and vascular complications after a COVID-19 infection. These complications are collectively known as long COVID or post-COVID syndrome, and can last from a few months to years.
EHRs help to record the different stages of an individual’s health with regards to COVID-19. This includes the date of diagnosis, treatments, vaccination history, after effects, and current health status.
Based on this, the employer with access to the employee’s EHR would be able to make the right decision regarding the employee’s ability to work.
Should businesses or employers have access to an employee's records?
The CDC guidelines advise businesses and employers to take steps for prevention and control of the spread of COVID-19 in the workspace.
The United States department of labor advises every employer to conduct regular screening of workers for COVID-19. The businesses that specifically require workers to be present onsite need to adopt onsite screening methods to prevent infection.
Since many businesses are reopening their physical worksites, the strategy of onsite screening helps maintain seamless operations.
Due to the COVID-19 prevalence, workers with different levels of health status and vaccination are present. Medical records are private and protected under HIPAA laws. In narrow circumstances, and with the consent of the employees, a manager can have access to the results of the COVID-19 screening tests performed at work.
It is important to stress that employees’ personal data are private and such supervision by a manager requires the consent of the employees. Employers cannot use use health data to make discriminatory decisions in the workspace.
How do portals and EHRs help track employee COVID test results and benefit the employer?
Workers with COVID infection or those suffering from its after-effects can be monitored with the help of their EHRs. Because EHRs contain the results of COVID-19 screening test results, it will be convenient for the employer to track the employee COVID-19 status and help maintain a safe environment for his workers.
Also, based on the EHR data, the employer would also be aware of the number of workers who are not vaccinated and thereby take the necessary measures to prevent the spread of infection among the employees in the workspace.
These measures can include granting of additional leaves, financial assistance, and adjustment of operational hours so as to support the employee’s physical and mental wellbeing.
This EHR would also be helpful to decide if the workers need to be screened for COVID infection before their entry into the workspace or exclude those workers with sickness and also return to work of recovered workers.
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019. CDC
- COVID-19 control and prevention by US department of labor.
- Hoffman, Sharona, “Employing E-Health: The Impact of Electronic Health Records on the Workplace” (2010). Faculty Publications. 10
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