A collection of published posts about policy changes and other information to help you do your job at VUMC. Explore other links under the Clinician and Employee Guidance tab for additional resources.
COVID infection rates are rising again; masking now required in all public indoor areas of VUMC
May 26, 2022
Considering the rapidly increasing rate of COVID-19 infections in our community and medical center, VUMC is reimplementing required masking in all indoor, non-clinical areas of VUMC regardless of vaccination status. As before, masking is also required in all clinical areas and on shuttles. These requirements apply to all employees, patients, trainees, and visitors.
VUMC Offers Second COVID-19 Boosters to Eligible Employees, Community Members
April 25, 2022
Based on updated CDC COVID-19 booster guidelines and VUMC’s review of the evidence, VUMC will offer a second booster of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to eligible individuals, ages 50 and over, who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
VIDEO: Dr. Jeff Balser, President and CEO, discusses recent conviction of a former VUMC nurse
March 31, 2022
In this video message, Dr. Jeff Balser addresses the recent conviction of a former nurse, VUMC’s culture of safety, and offers the latest on COVID’s impact on the medical center.
Read the transcript.
VIDEO: Dr. Jeff Balser on Recent Changes to COVID-19 Guidelines
March 16, 2022
Dr. Jeff Balser, president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, outlines recent changes to COVID-19 guidelines that affect all VUMC employees, along with steps being taken to increase staffing.
VUMC relaxes COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines in non-clinical areas
March 10, 2022
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new guidelines for measuring and categorizing COVID-19 risk in communities across the United States.
These new guidelines take into account hospitalizations for COVID-19, new cases of COVID-19 and overall availability of hospital beds. Counties in Middle Tennessee are now classified as low or medium risk for COVID-19.
Meeting, Gathering COVID-19 Safety Practices Remain in Effect
February 10, 2022
Currently, we have not changed limitations on meetings and gatherings: everyone must stay masked, and there should be no eating during the meeting.
We're closely tracking the following metrics of COVID-19 spread in the community, which the CDC uses to measure rate of transmission in a community:
COVID-19 Vaccinations Consolidated to 2 Central Locations
February 10, 2022
Effective Feb. 14, VUMC will consolidate locations where COVID-19 vaccines are available.
This change will lessen the significant administrative burden of COVID-19 vaccine oversight required at each location while still providing easy COVID-19 vaccine availability at central VUMC locations. COVID-19 vaccination is available in many locations throughout our community as well.
One Hundred Oaks and EPod Testing Sites to Close
February 4, 2022
As the demand for COVID-19 testing begins to decline, VUMC plans to close its COVID-19 testing location at One Hundred Oaks and in the "EPod" on the 21st Avenue campus.
The last day of operation for each site is Sunday, Feb. 6.
VUMC employees who need COVID-19 tests should go to Occupational Health's Express Care or the Glenrose testing site after that date. Weekend hours will be added at the Glenrose location.
COVID-19 boosters required for all employees. Deadline is Feb. 14.
January 20, 2022
Based on CDC recommendations, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) for several months has strongly urged employees to get a COVID-19 booster vaccination, if they are eligible to receive one.
Given the exponential spread of the omicron variant, and the evidence that boosted individuals are more protected against infection with this strain, VUMC will now require all employees eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccination to do so by Feb. 14, 2022, unless they have an approved exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
VIDEO: Dr. Jeff Balser on the omicron surge’s impact on VUMC and its people
January 7, 2022
In this week's video message, Dr. Jeff Balser, President and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, talks about the COVID-19 omicron variant stretching the limits of VUMC’s hospitals and its people, and the newly announced booster requirement for eligible employees to help keep everyone well.