Clinical policies & procedures
Please visit the FPP website for comprehensive guidance on all aspects of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clinical operations announcements
Follow current guidelines for pre-procedural COVID-19 testing
Pre-procedural patient testing is still in place, whether the patient is vaccinated or unvaccinated. View current standards.
N95s required for interaction with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients
The change is in response to a new OSHA standard and does not reflect any change in risk to health-care providers.
Monoclonal antibody clinic reopens at Christian Hospital
The treatment is indicated for certain high-risk outpatients. BJC provides details for health-care providers.
COVID-19 pre-procedural testing reinstated
Effective August 18, COVID-19 pre-procedural testing will be reinstated for all patients, regardless of vaccination status.
Updated guidance for N95 respirator use
Read new guidance for how long to use your N95 respirator.
Visitor policies change April 1
BJC HealthCare hospitals are gradually easing visitor restrictions made necessary by the pandemic.
Visitor policy updates for pediatric patients
St. Louis Children’s Hospital relaxes its visitor policy for outpatient clinics and ambulatory visits.
Clinics provide antibody therapy for COVID patients
BJC’s Parkview Tower location now offers weekend hours on Saturdays.
Double masking not necessary for medical-grade, N95 masks
Because medical-grade masks already contain multiple layers of barrier, wearing two masks is not recommended, nor has it been shown to provide additional protection against the virus.
Dr. Anthony Fauci to speak at virtual Grand Rounds Jan. 7
Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will speak at the Department of Medicine’s virtual Grand Rounds on Jan. 7. The event, available live on YouTube, is open to all.
Updated visitor policy for obstetric patients
Effective Monday, Nov. 30, obstetric patients may have one designated visitor per day in both the inpatient and ambulatory setting.
WUSM and BJC postpone some elective procedures, surgeries
Starting Monday, Nov. 16, some elective surgeries and procedures are being postponed to free staffing and bed capacity in anticipation of a dramatic surge in COVID-19 patient volumes.
COVID-19 testing guidelines for GI procedures (Links to an external site)
A new guidance document is available.
Conservation strategies in effect for rapid tests
To help manage an expected shortage of rapid COVID-19 tests, new conservation strategies go into effect on July 30, 2020.
Update to PPE guidelines for COVID-19 (Links to an external site)
The BJC/Washington University PPE Guidelines were updated July 30, 2020, to include images depicting what constitutes acceptable eyewear for protection against COVID-19.
FAQs about testing patients for COVID-19 before medical procedures
BJC HealthCare and Washington University Physicians provides a fact sheet about testing patients for COVID-19 before procedures.
Resuming clinical services and procedures
The School of Medicine has begun gradually resuming many of the clinical services and procedures that had been postponed during the last two months.
Updates to visitors policy
Policies are in place regarding visiting hospitalized patients.
COVID-19 in-home monitoring program launched
People with COVID-19 who are seen by Washington University physicians or BJC Medical Group providers, but not sick enough to be hospitalized, can be enrolled in an in-home health monitoring program.
COVID-19 serologic testing now available for patients
The Barnes-Jewish Hospital Core Laboratory now offers serologic testing for COVID-19 to patients at BJH and St. Louis Children’s hospitals.
PPE guidelines now in one convenient location (Links to an external site)
Comprehensive recommendations regarding all types of personal protective equipment (PPE) are available in one toolkit on the Faculty Practice Plan website.
Cardiologists monitor heart rhythms of COVID-19 patients by remote telemetry
Washington University cardiologists at Barnes-Jewish Hospital have developed a streamlined way for clinicians to monitor the heart rhythms of COVID-19 patients by remote telemetry.
How to leave COVID-19 behind when you come home
COVID-19 providers can take steps to limit their risk of transmitting the virus to family members when returning home at the end of the workday.
Departments prepare to schedule more patient visits
Safety for our patients and staff is the No. 1 priority as our clinical operations increase in-office appointments. As departments prepare to schedule more patient appointments, special considerations will be taken.
Student-staffed help center now available for virtual visitors
WUSM students have launched a virtual help center to connect COVID-19 patients with their loved ones at a time of heightened fear, panic and isolation.
Respiratory Evaluation Clinic opens Friday
An outpatient respiratory clinic for COVID-positive patients is opening Friday, April 24.
Guidelines for re-using, cleaning goggles and face shields (Links to an external site)
For your safety, please follow these Eye Protection Re-Use & Cleaning Guidelines when using goggles or face shields.
Five questions about PPE
Hilary Babcock, infectious disease physician at Washington University and Barnes- Jewish Hospital, and Rachael Snyders, BJC Center for Clinical Excellence infection prevention manager, answer questions about PPE.
End-of-life visitation guidelines
COVID-19-related visitor restrictions are in effect in all BJC facilities, but the policy for end-of-life visitation for COVID-19-positive patients has been updated.
Virtual visits: The doctor will see you now (Links to an external site)
To keep our patients and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington University Physicians is now offering virtual telemedicine visits for many of our specialties.
COVID-19 training courses for providers available (Links to an external site)
Check out CDC courses on COVID-19 clinical care, appropriate use of PPE, emergency preparedness and more.