clinical social work association

May 14, 2021

Several members have pointed out the part of the CDC guidance that is aimed at health care providers:

“The guidance reiterates the need for health care providers to continue using personal protective equipment (PPE) in health care settings. Continuing to use telehealth strategies while maintaining high-quality patient care remains the prudent option in many circumstances.”

This guidance is likely to apply to hospitals and high-volume medical offices. In the typical LCSW office, LCSWs are vaccinated, patients are seen one at a time, waiting rooms and restrooms are often still not being used, HEPA filters are still being used in the office, and patients who are not vaccinated are not being seen in person. Under these circumstances, the risk of passing on COVID-19 by seeing patients in person who are vaccinated is low.

As noted in the previous post, LCSWs with weakened immune systems should continue to use masks and have patients do so as well, if patients are seen in person.