National Day of Outreach to Healthcare Systems
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 - Noon (all time zones)
Script for Outreach to Healthcare System in Any State
Hello,
“I’m calling/emailing because I want you to bring back the protection of universal masking at [HOSPITAL] including areas where patients and visitors may be present, such as floors of hospitals and clinics, as well as shared spaces including hallways, corridors, lobbies, elevators, and bathrooms. Many of the top hospital systems across the country have currently reinstated some level of universal masking in healthcare settings. I am requesting that your hospital system follow suit out of care for the safety and wellbeing of patients and healthcare workers.
According to the CDC wastewater metrics, COVID transmission is “very high” nationally. The COVID levels are currently higher than all previous readings over the last two years.
Masks in healthcare keep us all safe – especially people who are at-risk, including people with disabilities, who have underlying health conditions, older adults, people who are pregnant, and infants.
Your patients are very concerned. [HOSPITAL] needs to bring back universal masking. Give us care, not COVID! Thank you.”
Tips:
-If you are a patient of the hospital, say so.
-If you are NOT a patient of the hospital, don’t say anything either way!
-If you are disabled/immunocompromised/high risk, say so.
-Use language like “universal masking” rather than “mask mandate”:
-If you or someone you know has already been infected with COVID in a healthcare setting (especially if it was theirs), say so.
-End with: ”Give us care, NOT COVID!”
Purpose: Illinois Department of Public Health has sent out recommendations, Dec 14th, to any and all healthcare facilities to implement universal masking as a result of the very high risk of COVID transmission and increased numbers of hospitalizations at hospitals due to other infectious diseases. We ask you to join us Care Not COVID Chicagoland, to call, email these hospitals, Wednesday, Jan 3rd, asking them to follow these recommendations.
Location: Zoom and Discord. This virtual session starts at 12 PM Chicago time zone and will conclude after one hour. Please RSVP here!
Today’s action focuses on all healthcare systems that have not reinstated universal masking, so please call/email them and contact the Illinois Department of Health. We also include a script for your call/email below.
You will find below contact information, including phone numbers and emails. We also include a script for your call/email below.
Have you signed our petition demanding that healthcare facilities implement universal masking? Sign here!
CEO = Chief Executive Officer
CMO = Chief Medical Officer (Address as Dr.)
-Northwestern (masking optional):
Patient Relations: 312-926-3112
CEO: Howard Chrisman, howard.chrisman@nm.org
CMO: Gary Noskin, gnoskin@northwestern.edu
-UI Health (masking optional):
Patient Relations: 312-355-0101
CEO (interim): Mark Rosenblatt, mrosenbl@uic.edu
CMO: Rakhi Thambi, rthambi@uic.edu
CMO: Jon Radosta, jrados1@uic.edu
-Lurie Children’s Hospital (masking optional):
Patient Relations: 312-227-4940
CEO: Tom Shanley, TShanley@Luriechildrens.org
CMO: Derek Wheeler, DWheeler@Luriechildrens.org
-Loretto Hospital (masking optional):
Patient Experience Line, 312.859.6959 or tanesha.daniels@lorettohospital.org
-Sinai Health (universal masking):
Patient Relations: Regulatory.PatientRelation.PatientSafety@sinai.org
CEO: Ngozi Ezike
-Advocate (limited masking):
Patient Relations: 773-296-8230
ID Physician: Robert Citronberg, Robert.citronberg@aah.org
CMO: Gary Stuck, Gary.stuck@aah.org, 630-929-8735
CEO: Eugene Woods, Gene.Woods@atriumhealth.org
-Endeavor Health - NorthShore, Edward-Elmhurst, Swedish (limited masking):
Patient Relations: 847-570-1536
CEO: Gerald Gallagher, Jgallagher@northshore.org
CMO: Lakshmi Halasyamani, Lhalasyamani@northshore.org
-Rush (universal masking):
Patient Relations: 312-942-6979 or patient_relations@rush.edu
CEO: Omar Lateef, Omar_Lateef@rush.edu
-Cook County Hospital (universal masking):
CEO: Erik Mikaitis
CMO: Rachel Rubin, rrubin@cookcountyhhs.org
Patient Relations:
Linh Dang, Phone: (312) 864-6827
Ascension Health (universal masking)
CEO:
CMO:
-Illinois Department of Health:
Springfield Office: 217-782-4977
Chicago Office: 312-814-2793, alternative number 312-814-5278
***Note: UChicago Medicine, Ascension, Advocate Health, Cook County Health (patients and staff), Endeavor (NorthShore, Edward-Elmhurst, Swedish), and Rush (patients and staff), have reinstated some levels of masking among staff and patients. If you call them, thank them and let them know universal masking among staff AND PATIENTS is important.
Hello,
“I’m calling/emailing because I want you to bring back the protection of universal masking at [HOSPITAL]. The Illinois Department of Public Health is now recommending reinstatement of universal masking in all healthcare settings including areas where patients and visitors may be present, such as hallways, corridors, lobbies, elevators, and bathrooms. I am requesting that your hospital system follow IDPH’s new guidelines.
According to the CDC, COVID transmission is “ very high” nationally, including Cook County. The Midwest shows the highest wastewater levels of all. Midwest wastewater readings are currently higher than all previous readings for the midwest over the last two years. Hospitalization rates have also now reached medium or high for more than half of all counties.
Masks in healthcare keep us all safe – especially people who are at-risk, including people with disabilities, who have underlying health conditions, older adults, people who are pregnant, and infants.
Your patients are very concerned. [HOSPITAL] needs to follow the IDPH guidelines to bring back universal masking. Give us care, not COVID! Thank you.”
Tips:
-If you are a patient of the hospital, say so.
-If you are NOT a patient of the hospital, don’t say anything either way!
-If you are disabled/immunocompromised/high risk, say so.
-Use language like “universal masking” rather than “mask mandate”:
-If you or someone you know has already been infected with COVID in a healthcare setting (especially if it was theirs), say so.
-End with: ”Give us care, NOT COVID!”
https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.29400.html
“IDPH is also encouraging all healthcare settings to consider masking in patient care areas especially if caring for those with weakened immune systems as both RSV and COVID-19 are rising. Per CDC recommendations, universal masking should be considered facility-wide…during periods of higher levels of community COVID-19 or other respiratory virus transmission.”
“IDPH supports CDC’s recommendation of facility-wide masking at healthcare facilities that are in counties rated at high level for COVID-19 hospitalizations or per facility discretion in areas where data shows elevated transmission of other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV, even if COVID-19 hospitalization levels are not high in those areas.”