Staff and Visitor Screening Process Updated

The Masonic Homes of California is committed to keeping staff and residents safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have instituted strict screening precautions, such as temperature checks and symptom reporting, before they were introduced broadly to senior communities. In this spirit of safety, starting on Friday, May 22, 2020, all staff and visitors will have their oxygen saturation levels measured as part of our admission/screening process. Any result of 89% or lower will be considered as a “low” oxygen saturation level.

Recent studies show that the COVID-19 disease can present with a variety of different signs and symptoms. One of those symptoms is low blood oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation can easily be measured by using a pulse oximeter that is placed on a finger. This device measures oxygen levels without the use of a needle.

Low blood oxygen levels can also be a completely harmless and temporary issue that resolves quickly and without any ill effect. Furthermore, low oxygen saturation can be associated with a wide-range of other non-COVID-19 conditions such as (not a complete list):

  • Anemia
  • Asthma
  • Chronic lung conditions
  • Lung infections
  • Heart disease/defects
  • Emphysema

The Masonic Homes is not a medical facility and will not using low oxygen levels as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19.

If a staff member has a low oxygen level (89% or lower), the screener will ask the employee to rest for three minutes and remeasure the oxygen level.  If the level remains low, the staff member will be required to leave work and return only after receiving and providing a medical clearance to management.

This effort is being made to increase the safety of our residents, staff, and campus.  For the full list of policies in place due to COVID-19, please click here.

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