Face Mask Policy Changes – April 3, 2023
Effective Monday, April 3, masking will be optional at Inova patient care sites. Exceptions will include high-risk clinical spaces and for anyone interacting with patients who are identified by their provider as immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19.
Go Deeper:
Team member and patient safety has been and continues to be Inova’s top priority. Masking has been an important tool to stop the spread of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, but after thoughtful consideration of several factors, including high levels of immunity, CDC community levels and availability of effective treatments, we have determined that it is safe to discontinue our universal masking requirement.
High-risk clinical spaces are where patients being cared for are at high risk for severe illness if they develop COVID-19. These include:
- IFMC Adult Oncology Unit
- IFMC Transplant Clinic
- All Neonatal Intensive Care Units
- All Newborn Nurseries
- Pediatric Hem-Onc Clinic
- Pediatric Hem-Onc Inpatient Unit
We will re-evaluate our selection of high-risk clinical spaces as circumstances warrant.
Patients should follow their provider’s masking instructions. If a patient or visitor is exhibiting active respiratory symptoms, they will be asked to wear a mask.
Patients or patient representatives may request that Inova team members wear a mask while in a patient room or immediate patient care area.
Patients who are identified as high-risk or immunocompromised, or who request that masks be worn in their room or immediate care area, will have a “Mask Required” sign posted on the door to their room. Masks must be worn by all who enter these patient rooms, including team members and visitors.
Updated June 30, 2023
I am pleased to read that masks are optional now. Great news!!
My Family & I are still going to CONTINUE TO wear our MASKS 😷. We have had several of our Friends & Loved ones pass from COVID. Please try to think of others who have severe autoimmune disorders. You may want to stop just for a minute & put your mask on, please. You could have COVID & as I type this. PLEASE stop an think of yourself & members you be helping by continuing to wear your mask.
😷😷😷“OUR BODIES, our choice” 😷😷😷
I am not trying to be rude but think about how contradicting your last statement is “Our bodies, our choice.” “Our choice” is no mask and your choice is a mask. Your statement means that we all get our choice but what you want is for everyone to follow your choice. Covid is the common cold now. I know people who died too, in the beginning, during the initial strains/mutations, but it isn’t the same now.
My husband and I will wear masks.
As a high risk person, how do I request that masks be worn during routine and outpatient visits, such as labs, imaging, etc?
You can make the request that team members wear a face mask during your appointment at the time you schedule the appointment or when you arrive for the appointment. It will be noted in your record and a “Mask Required” sign will be placed on the exterior of the exam/procedure door of the room. All team members entering the room will wear a face mask.
I just want to thank INOVA for keeping a generous “patient requests masking” policy to keep us safe, especially regarding appointments. Not only for ourselves, the patient, but for vulnerable family members we return to. Thank you!
Are masks still required in labor and delivery? Asking as I have an induction coming up and wondering if my labor will be with a mask or not
Labor and delivery units are mask optional. The high-risk clinical spaces that are identified below are exceptions to the mask optionals policy.
High-risk clinical spaces are where patients being cared for are at high risk for severe illness if they develop COVID-19, either because of inability to wear masks, inability to have received COVID-19 vaccination, or an immunocompromised condition.
• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus Adult Oncology Unit
• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus transplant clinic
• All Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)
• All Newborn Nurseries
• Pediatric hematology-oncology clinics
• Pediatric hematology-oncology inpatient units
• Antenatal Testing Centers
The infusion clinics of Inova for cancer patients have dropped mask requirements. Prolly well over, most like 90% of people going for treatment are immuneocompromised. I go for infusions every 3 weeks. I’m a cancer survivor, but now I have to go in and “request” anyone that comes near me to wear a mask. And I promise you, I will do so. BUT, I’m going onto to say this is both ridiculous and wrong. It has been well established that people with cancer, receiving treatment especially are immuneocompromised which I am and do. I know people all around me now that have casually gotten COVID. Don’t tell me it’s over. Inova what the hell???
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback and concerns. We have shared your message with our leaders.
Sounds good
Ok 2nd attempt at leaving comment. I am a stage 4 cancer survivor that receives immunotherapy every 3 week infusion with a port on my chest near my face. I’m absolutely asking for all interacting staff to wear masks. Further, since most people walking into infusion clinic are immuneocompromised, I don’t understand why it was ok to lift it there. One of the places on the list is oncology. I’m sorry this isn’t appropriate.
We appreciate you sharing your concerns and it will be escalated to leadership. All our patients can request team members wear a face mask during your appointment. You can make the request at the time you schedule the appointment or when you arrive at the care site. A note will be entered in your record, so all members of your care team will wear a face mask.
Thank you for info
Effective July 3, 2023: Antenatal testing centers will be mask optional. Patients can request team members wear a face mask during their appointment. Patients can make the request at the time the appointment is scheduled or when they arrive at the care site. A note will be entered in their record, so all members of their care team will wear a face mask.
I wish you would re-visit this policy, with covid essentially over and masks no longer required, its very disappointing that siblings can not visit labor & delivery. These are special memories that I have looked forward to my whole life (big brother meeting new baby) and this policy ruins any chance of those.
While removing the mask requirement is a great step in the right direction, I would love to see Inova rescind the rule that siblings under age 12 are not allowed to visit their new baby sibling in the postpartum room after birth. I am due next month and would love for my 14 month old to be able to come into our hospital room to meet his baby sister.
The rule doesn’t make much sense to me. I asked the hospital why it exists and they said it was enacted during Covid so it should be rescinded now since the pandemic is over. Inova is one of the only hospital systems in the country that still has a rule like this.