While virtual education continues to be the safest and preferred option for clinical consults and group classes, Intermountain is providing guidance to reopen in-person education where virtual isn’t possible, effective the week of June 8. Types of education include preoperative instruction, childbirth education, hospital-based education for community members, and Office of Health Promotion and Wellness/LiVe Well education (e.g. dietician visits and executive health exams). Caregiver fitness facilities, exercise classes, and in-person activities where vigorous exercise can lead to an aerosol-generating activity are still ON HOLD and won’t reopen or continue until Intermountain and the state are in green status.
Intermountain teams are taking measures to reopen clinical consults and group classes support our communities’ and patients’ education needs while protecting participant and caregiver safety. If Intermountain patient and community classes and education can be provided outdoors, this is the next-best setting to virtual channels. Whether outdoors or indoors, all participants, facilitators, faculty, and staff must:
- be screened with questions and temperature checked if performed at the facility/campus
- not attend in person if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days or if they are currently experiencing any symptoms or illness
- wash hands prior to entering the space, between touching participants and others’ tools and materials, and after completing the activity and leaving the space
- sign in to a sign-in-sheet for any potential health department contact tracing needs
- maintain social distancing and 6-feet spacing between individuals at all times during the class
- wear a mask or cloth facing covering and keep the mask on throughout the class; if an individual feels short of breath wearing the mask, they must be escorted out of the space while the mask is kept on until outdoors
- cover any sneeze or cough with their elbow along with continued mask/face covering wearing; exit the room for continued coughing or sneezing and do not remove mask/face covering
- bring own water bottle and not share with others or use water fountains
- not socialize after the class or congregate
All facilitators must:
- wipe down desks, chairs, or any tools used in the activity prior to participant arrival with disinfectant wipes
- ensure entrances have sufficient space for participants to safely enter without crowding
- limit meetings and class size to fewer than 10 people to optimize safety
- wipe down the space and used items after the activity
- direct participants to get their belongings and leave the building after class has ended
These measures to reopen clinical consults and group classes support our communities’ and patients’ education needs while protecting participant and caregiver safety. For more information check our Classes and Events Calendar.