SEATTLE, WA. (THECOUNT) — MultiCare Health Systems is ordering symptomatic, COVID-positive staff to work at its area hospitals, reports the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH Wednesday night.
According to Rantz, officials with the organization are refusing to comment after an internal memo was uncovered dated January 6, advising staff members that MultiCare hospitals have moved into “crisis levels of staffing.”
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EXCLUSIVE: MultiCare ordered symptomatic, COVID-positive staff to treat patients at their hospitals, according to a memo obtained by the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH.
"You could be dizzy, coughing, whatever," a staffer said.
Hospital officials won't comment.https://t.co/P8mZUDLdDi
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) January 13, 2022
There are a total of eight MultiCare hospitals in the Puget Sound region, with locations in Tacoma, Olympia, Covington, Auburn, Puyallup, and Seattle.
The impetus for the move was the rise in hospital visits, though not all due to COVID, reports Rantz.
Consequently, the hospitals modified their return-to-work process, ordering staff “to work even if they are experiencing mild symptoms but are improving.” But a MultiCare staffer claimed unless a staffer has a fever, “they want us coming in.” It’s unclear if COVID-positive staff are even disclosing their status to patients or coworkers.