We Commit

Daily Symptom Attestation Required for All Students, Faculty, & Staff 

Mass General Brigham – including the MGH Institute – has returned to the mild/moderate phase of its Respiratory Virus Mitigation Policy. Effective immediately, students, faculty, and staff no longer are required to mask during direct interactions with clients and each other in Sanders IMPACT Practice Center client sessions, data capture and other activities with research participants, and simulation and instructional lab learning activities.  (updated 03/26/2024)

All employees & students on campus are required to answer symptom screening questions in WorkWell (previously COVID Pass) at the start of their workday via desktop or Epic login.

  1. All employees must attest to being remote or not remote. People who attest as remote do not need to report any symptoms.
  2. All onsite employees must report any symptoms they are experiencing or attest to not having symptoms in WorkWell.
  3. Due to the recent implementation of UKG Dimensions, attestation via time clocks will not be available.

Access WorkWell (formerly COVID Pass)

logo of mass general brigham and the word workwell

When you visit the app, it will say "for employees" but it is also for students of MGH IHP.

When to use WorkWell

Students/employees should use WorkWell for:

  • Daily attestation: beginning on December 11, 2023
  • Symptom reporting: if you develop new viral respiratory symptoms, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, use WorkWell to report any of these symptom(s) and seek Return-To-Work/School guidance.
  • Reporting a positive test: any new positive tests for COVID-19 should be submitted through the app. 

 

Testing for Students, Faculty and Staff

Regardless of your vaccination status, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and get tested. Refrain from coming to campus and contact MGH Occupational Health Services (617-726-2217; when prompted, students should press option 3) for assessment or testing guidance.

While on Campus

Due to the high rate of respiratory virus infections within the area and consistent with policies and guidance from Mass General Brigham, MA Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the Institute will be implementing targeted masking effective Wednesday January 3, 2024.

Institute issued masks will be required:

  • IMPACT Practice Center client sessions,
  • Data capture and other activities with research participants
  • Simulation and instructional lab learning activities

As a community we will respect others who make a personal decision to wear a mask on campus.

Students, faculty and staff are still required to report active symptom attestations via WorkWell.

We are still in the early stages of the respiratory virus season and as a result, we will continue evaluating over the next few weeks the effectiveness of the new masking policy and communicate any changes that are necessary.

Vaccinations - Updated September 2023

All Institute students in academic programs scheduled to be on campus are required to submit their proof of COVID-19 vaccination into their Complio account. Students are required to receive 1 bivalent booster vaccine OR a completed series of a COVID-19 vaccine (both doses of Pfizer or Moderna, single dose of Johnson & Johnson). For guidance on how to populate your Complio account, visit the IHP’s Immunization and Certification page.

Students in need of a COVID-19 vaccine can utilize:

  • MGH Occupational Health: Call to make an appointment: 617-726-2217.
  • Mass.gov: Students can use the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Finder to find a convenient vaccination location, like CVS Pharmacy.

Noncompliant students will:

  • Lose access to D2L (learning management system),
  • Not be able to participate in clinical placements, and
  • Not be able to attend class on campus.

 

Vaccines are required of all employees unless you have a religious or medical exemption. Faculty, staff, and students who have not received any COVID vaccines or have not completed the monovalent primary series should receive 1 bivalent booster vaccine to meet the requirement. (Individuals who received the monovalent vaccine and no booster will now be considered compliant as well.) If you have questions about the vaccine or want to discuss your vaccine concerns, MGB has developed guidance to help answer questions.

Employees who need to submit vaccine documentation to meet compliance OR wish to submit documentation received at a non-MGB institution can PHSOHSCOVID19 [at] partners.org (email proof) of vaccination to Occupational Health System Services.

Whether you were vaccinated at a Mass General Brigham site or elsewhere, you must submit attestation or documentation. All new hires must receive vaccination clearance to work from MGH Occupational Health, which includes validation of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The quickest, easiest way to get a COVID-19 booster shot is in your local community; many sites, including CVS and Walgreens, offer free booster shots. You can search vaccines.gov to find a location near you. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location.

Students

  • Medical exemption: those who seek a medical exemption due to medical contraindications (e.g., a previous severe or immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine or the components of a COVID-19) must complete an exemption form and provide documentation from a qualified health care provider that will be subject to review by Occupational Health.
  • Religious exemption: those who seek a religious exemption due to sincerely held religious beliefs must complete an exemption form. Documentation may be required. jkreisel [at] mghihp.edu (Email Joanna Kreisel) for guidance on this process.

Faculty/Staff

  • Medical exemption: those who seek a medical exemption due to medical contraindications (e.g., a previous severe or immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine or the components of a COVID-19) must complete an exemption form and provide documentation from a qualified health care provider that will be subject to review by Occupational Health.
  • Religious exemption: those who seek a religious exemption due to sincerely held religious beliefs must complete an exemption form that will be subject to review by Human Resources. Documentation may be required. 

Requiring vaccination as a condition of employment has been demonstrated to be necessary to achieve the highest levels of workforce vaccination and increase safety for all workforce members, patients, and visitors to health care settings.