Practices thirsting to reopen must play smart, go slow, and heed regional COVID-19 guidance

Why This Topic Matters

Reopening after a shutdown affects patient access, staff safety, workflow design, and legal compliance. The article helps readers understand the main categories of guidance and operational issues that can shape a cautious, state-aware return to service.

Article Sections

1. A slow reopening

   This section reviews the general reopening environment during the COVID-19 public health emergency and contrasts federal guidance with state-level authority. It also summarizes the differing pace of reopening across states.

2. Are your employees ready?

   This section focuses on workforce readiness before reopening, including employee concerns and the need to consider accommodations and workplace obligations. It introduces several employment and safety frameworks relevant to healthcare settings.

3. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)

   This subsection addresses employee-related legal considerations under federal disability and age discrimination laws. It discusses how practices may need to evaluate individual situations when planning a return to work.

4. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)

   This subsection covers workplace safety expectations for healthcare workers during the pandemic, including reliance on safety guidance and protective measures. It also addresses employee concerns about adequate protection in the work setting.

5. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

   This subsection discusses group employee concerns about work conditions and the protections that may apply to concerted activity. It explains the labor-relations context without focusing on a single facility type.

6. Workers’ compensation

   This subsection summarizes pandemic-related workers’ compensation developments affecting healthcare workers. It notes that states were beginning to adjust their approaches during the public health emergency.

7. Planning your reentry

   This section outlines practical preparation topics for reopening after a shutdown or near-shutdown. It covers workflow, staffing, cleaning, scheduling, and how practices may structure services during the transition.

8. Social distancing

   This subsection addresses patient flow and waiting-area adjustments intended to reduce crowding. It focuses on operational spacing and visit timing considerations.

9. Staff and facility care

   This subsection discusses cleaning, sanitizing, screening, and staff training considerations for reopening. It also references general workplace safety planning and infection-control preparation.

10. Staging

    This subsection covers planning for delayed procedures and prioritizing patient services as practices resume operations. It addresses backlogs and sequencing of care.

11. COVID care

    This subsection discusses separating COVID-related and non-COVID-related care areas or workflows. It also touches on staffing and service-line planning for ongoing pandemic-era operations.

12. Smooth landing?

    This closing section addresses expectations for a gradual return to normal volume and the likelihood of reduced capacity at first. It also notes the possibility of future surges affecting operations.