Penn State Health to provide Level One masks to all employees; face shields to employees with direct patient contact

The safety of the entire Penn State Health family and the patients we care for is our highest priority. From our clinical staff and volunteers who work with patients and families to our food service and housekeeping employees, we want to protect your health and the health of others while also effectively managing our inventory of critical medical supplies and equipment during this unprecedented public health crisis.

On Tuesday, March 31, Penn State Health will begin providing Level One masks (ear loop masks) to all of our employees. Masks will be issued to you through your individual department manager. Their use is mandatory for all employees working in Penn State Health facilities.

As an added measure of protection, employees who work in clinical areas with direct patient interaction may request a face shield, which staff can choose to wear over their mandatory Level One mask.

Despite the use of masks and face shields, it is vital that staff continue to follow CDC recommendations for frequent hand-cleaning, social distancing and other health hygiene practices to reduce the risk of exposure. Simple habits like keeping our hands clean and not touching our faces are among the most effective ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched thin the national inventory of masks and other critical medical supplies. Penn State Health continues to develop longer term plans to help secure the supplies we need but there are no guarantees. We continue to look for innovative ways to optimize our supply chain, collaborating with the business community and even working with Penn State College of Medicine’s Center for Medical Innovation to develop and manufacture some of our own protective gear. Still, our supply chain challenges are real.

Due to the uncertainty of long-term supplies, we are asking staff to reuse masks for 7 days and preserve them by keeping them stored in a dry paper bag and minimizing handling to prevent damage. Likewise, staff will be asked to maintain and clean their face shields routinely. (Specific maintenance and cleaning instructions can be found here). Department-level supplies are in place to reissue masks and face shields only as needed.

Distributing masks and face shields to thousands of employees over a short period of time is a daunting task. Our teams are working as quickly as possible to make it happen but it may take much of the day on Tuesday to get the promised supplies to everyone.

We appreciate all that you are doing as individuals on the frontlines of this pandemic. Thank you for your support of your colleagues and the communities we serve. Together, we will get through this.

View the full interim COVID-19 Employee Mask and Face Shield Guidelines.

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