Skip to main content

Simplified return-to-work guidelines

Published Date
Author Providence Provider Update News Team

PROVIDENCE OREGON – As the likelihood of increased respiratory disease transmission increases during the fall and winter, it’s important to take additional precautions to keep each other, our patients and communities safe. 

Returning to work after illness

If you do become ill, it is important to follow these guidelines before returning to work.  

  • For COVID-19: If you test positive, regardless of whether you have symptoms or not, contact caregiver health services at 949-534-4450. Clearance for returning to work must be provided by caregiver health services. 
  • For respiratory illness such as flu and RSV, but confirmed negative for COVID: 
    • You do not need to contact the caregiver health to report your illness or to be cleared to return to work. 
    • You may return to work once:
      • You’ve been fever-free for 24 hours or more without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
      • AND your symptoms improving/resolving. 
  • For other potentially communicable diseases, follow the return-to-work criteria in the Communicable Disease Management Guidelines posted on the Caregiver Service Portal.  
  • See chart for more information.  
  • Remote workers do not need to report to caregiver health service center and may work as soon as they feel well enough.

*Note: In addition to the above COVID return-to-work criteria, Home and Community Care (HCC) caregivers must also have negative COVID test before returning to work. 

COVID exposures

Were you recently exposed to someone with COVID? Check in with caregiver health on what to do for high-risk exposures, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Masking guidelines

Masks are currently required for any patient-facing encounters in Oregon hospitals, in all inpatient units and emergency departments. 

  • Workforce members must adhere to current local masking requirements. Workforce members must also follow federal and state OSHA, local health authority, and facility standards for respiratory protection.  
  • Infection prevention tools such as universal masking may be implemented based on a variety of local factors, including disease levels in the community, patient population served and public health requirements. These factors, alongside CDC ESSENCE data, will guide local decision-making regarding masks. 
  • Please check with your core leader if you have any questions about current requirements. Core leaders can check with their local infection prevention leader for updates.

We can all work together to keep each other and our patients safe by adhering to local masking guidelines and following the appropriate return-to-work guidelines after having been sick.