On March 28, 2023

RRMC moves to symptom-based masking

Rutland Regional Medical Center (RRMC) relaxed the universal masking requirements that have been in place since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic on Monday, March 27 and moved to symptom-based masking.

“Symptom-based masking is for people who have any cold or flu-like symptoms when they come to the hospital or outpatient clinics,” said Rick Hildebrant, the chief medical information officer at Rutland Regional. “We also continue to encourage basic infection control across the board such as frequent hand washing and other sanitizing measures.”

 In February, as part of a phased approach, Rutland Regional relaxed masking requirements at one of its busiest clinics, carefully monitoring for an uptick in Covid or other infectious diseases. As there was no discernible increase in infections, masking requirements were relaxed in all other off-site clinics in early March. 

Furthermore, hospitalizations for Covid have remained low for several weeks. Both of these factors provided excellent clinical indicators that the risk of Covid to staff and patients is low and that relaxing the hospital’s mask requirement was an appropriate and safe next step.

“We recognized that the pandemic has now moved into more of an endemic phase, and we wanted to find a way to safely relax masking and PPE requirements for patients and staff, but do so in a way that is supported by data,” said Todd Gregory, the chief medical officer at Rutland Regional Medical Center. “We’ve not seen an appreciable increase in infection involving Covid or other respiratory agents among staff or patients during the test period, and consequently feel it is reasonable to change our mask requirements organization-wide.” 

 Mask wearing will still be required in some instances, however.

“Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms will be required to wear a mask,” added Gregory. “Additionally, masks may be required in certain areas of the hospital or outpatient clinics based on exposure risks, patient population, etc.”

 The hospital will continue to provide masks for anyone who chooses to wear one.

“This is a positive shift for our community and for our hospital,” said Judi Fox, interim president and CEO at Rutland Regional. “We have appreciated the cooperation and support of our patients and visitors in maintaining our Covid protocols over the past three years. It has been a true team effort to keep Rutland Regional and our community as safe and healthy as possible throughout the pandemic. We look forward to seeing smiling faces again.”

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Killington Grand Hotel sale sets new sales record

November 6, 2024
The most expensive interval ownership condominium in Killington was sold by Killington Pico Realty on Nov. 1, for $210,000–one of two interval condominiums in Killington to sell for more than $200,000 in the same week. For perspective, this same interval condominium sold just 16 months ago for $134,000. Krista Mosher and Jessica Posch of Killington…

David Minard

November 6, 2024
11/09/45-01/07/24 Please join us to honor “One of the good guys” November 9th (his birthday) 1:00 p.m. Riverside cemetery Reception following at Sherburne Library

Ceramicist finds home in Hartland

November 6, 2024
By Curt Peterson Amanda Ann Palmer’s ceramics studio seems a “hidden corner of creativity.” She makes her beautiful array of hand-made pottery pieces that range in size from small tree ornament mushrooms and coffee mugs to good-sized fruit bowls. She exhibited her wares at Reading Greenhouse’s crafts fair last weekend, and generally at Long River…

Rutland Beer Works brings the taproom experience to Rutland

November 6, 2024
By James Kent Something exciting’s brewin’ in the RU; take a brief jaunt west a couple of blocks from downtown Rutland to 136 Granger St., and you’ll find a cozy brewery nestled into this mixed-use neighborhood of residences and businesses.The brewery isn’t new to the neighborhood. Rutland Beer Works arrived on the scene nearly a…