SIH makes vaccinations mandatory for employees at all facilities: HMC on board

SIH has announced it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees and those who work in SIH facilities as a condition of their employment.

Employees will be required to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 8, 2021. This policy affects all SIH employees and volunteers, including remote workers, students, non-employed medical staff, and others who provide services within our facilities.

There will be a process for requesting a medical exemption based on CDC guidelines or a religious exemption.

Meanwhile, employees who have not yet been vaccinated for COVID-19 will be required to be tested weekly until they satisfy the vaccine requirement.

Weekly testing is expected to begin on Friday, Sept. 10.

As an additional precaution, SIH is reviewing elective surgeries on a case-by-case basis and scaling back procedures where an overnight or extended hospital stay is necessary.

Visitor policies are also being revised temporarily as a precaution, allowing only one visitor per patient per day.

SIH inpatient hospitals included in the vaccine requirement, as well as their more than 30 outpatient and specialty practices facilities, are:

SIH Memorial Hospital, Carbondale

Harrisburg Medical Center

SIH Herrin Hospital

SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro

"With low regional vaccination rates, the spread of the Delta variant and increases in community cases and hospitalizations, we've entered an even more daunting phase of the pandemic," said SIH President and CEO Rex Budde. "We made the decision to require vaccination after careful consideration of current trends - including overwhelming evidence of COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness - and anticipation of full FDA approval."

"Making the COVID-19 vaccine a requirement for our employees is the most important act of caring we can all do right now to protect them, their patients, and all our families that rely on safe, high-quality care right here close to home."

He said SIH will be listening to employees that have serious concerns about the vaccine, and give them opportunities to learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated so they are comfortable and confident in their roles safely serving patients.

Donald Hutson, vice president and administrator of Harrisburg Medical Center, said his medical facility is on board.

"As the newest member of the SIH health system, Harrisburg Medical Center supports the critical importance of requiring COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment," he said.

He said HMC personnel were already discussing making vaccinations mandatory before joining the SIH family.

"We are now in the process of implementing this new protective measure, so important to the health and safety of our communities," Hutson said.

With full vaccination of staff to help protect against the spread of COVID-19, SIH also believes it's critical to be as prepared as possible at a time when other viral illnesses with similar symptoms, such as influenza, will be in circulation.

"Current vaccines provide significant immunity against most of the variants to date and we have seen how increased vaccination rates are the most effective in preventing new COVID-19 cases in our communities," said Dr. Marci Moore-Connelly, SIH Chief Medical Officer.

"Making COVID-19 vaccinations a requirement for our employees is vital to promoting the health and well-being of all the people in the communities we serve."