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MammothBobcat251 t1_je4hujo wrote

Every doctor, specialist, etc I’ve been to so far is requiring them.

I’m doing my yearly round of checkups so that’s 4 offices so far.

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Jaded_Cryptographer t1_je4czjk wrote

I'm fairly sure the mask mandate for hospitals is still there. And if it isn't, I would be very shocked if any hospital in DC didn't independently have their own mask mandate. The one I work at still requires masks, and even every doctor's office I've been in lately still requires them.

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gopoohgo t1_je510a4 wrote

CDC dropped the mask mandate in healthcare settings last fall but left it up to individual health entities. Most, especially with those treating high-risk populations left them in place.

Link here

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Jaded_Cryptographer t1_je53bg6 wrote

Yes, but DC Health can set its own guidelines.

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gopoohgo t1_je5hgip wrote

From trying to navigate DC Health's website, there hasn't been an update on their healthcare facility mask guidelines since 2021?

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keyjan t1_je4ks4q wrote

Dunno if they’re mandated, but every doctor/dental office I've been to since this all began has required them (including my appointments this calendar year). They also usually have them available for patients who don’t bring their own.

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N0T-It t1_je4p5mj wrote

My primary care doc and my dentist still require them. The vet I take my cats to (in Maryland) also does as well.

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walkallover1991 t1_je4kc47 wrote

Kaiser does.

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gopoohgo t1_je505vo wrote

this is changing at the end of April in Maryland iirc.

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walkallover1991 t1_je50y7q wrote

Good.

I have absolutely no problems wearing a mask at a doctor's office, it's just annoying when they ask you to take it off for some reason (check your throat, etc.) but then snap at you if you don't put it back on fast enough or talk while the mask is off.

I went to a Kaiser doctor a couple of weeks ago and was surprised to see he was wearing three masks (two surgical and one N95) and a face shield. None of my business and I could care less, but I haven't seen anyone with that level of protection in like two years.

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gopoohgo t1_je51f6m wrote

>he was wearing three masks (two surgical and one N95) and a face shield.

Could make sense if he was high risk I guess, or was going to do a high-risk procedure on you.

I just enjoyed not getting upper respiratory infections from patients over the last three years. Will probably keep wearing N95s from the start to end of the winter.

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walkallover1991 t1_je52dbg wrote

It was just a visit to get a Tret RX lol

Again, it didn't bother me and is none of my business, I just found it interesting...I assumed he was likely high-risk.

Agree though, I masked all throughout winter and didn't get sick once. Will probably do so again this winter.

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kudzufourdsys t1_je4ld2t wrote

UMD facilities have dropped mask requirements (or will be soon).

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giraflor t1_je4pk4y wrote

Every health care facility I’ve been to in the last two months has required them. Even Labcorp.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_je5114d wrote

Any place that requires a mask will provide one for you.

My dermatologist mentioned that with non-stop use of N95 mask, her skin is fully hydrated.

She had to stop using moisturizer!

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jon20001 t1_je59q4k wrote

My husband runs a group of medical practices. Masks will be part of the healthcare experience for years to come. It’s annoying but an important protection.

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RecursiveBob t1_je4tunk wrote

There's no across-the-board rule, but I think most doctors offices have you do it. When I went to my eye doctor, it was required and they really meant it; everyone in the waiting room was masked.

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Responsible-Ebb-9775 t1_je4ypan wrote

I was just at my ENT yesterday and they don’t require it although my doctor, audiologist, myself and most other patients were wearing them.

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Susurrus03 t1_je57m00 wrote

Children's National earlier this month did.

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gopoohgo t1_je4sjkm wrote

Ours are optional for patients.

Kaiser, at least the northern MD part, is also making them optional for patients as well.

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crossedtherubicon20 t1_je596as wrote

It’s still there. Wonder if it will be dropped once pandemic emergency expires in May. But still in force.

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MammothBobcat251 t1_je98uin wrote

It’s not mandated by governments most places but is an office rule instead. Many doctors lived through seeing what Covid can do to people up close and personal. They also work with high risk folks all the time and are constantly seeing people who are sick.

Many offices I went to pre Covid asked people to wear a mask if they had flu like symptoms. This feels like an evolution of that and also one that makes sense. Keeps you and your patients safe.

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crossedtherubicon20 t1_je9zx34 wrote

Well human touch and interaction are a part of the healing process for patients. Pandemic protocols changed that dramatically.

In addition to masking, other Covid related costs are no longer being subsidized by the government so healthcare organizations will be making those decisions over the next couple of months or so.

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MammothBobcat251 t1_jea08lx wrote

None of this is impacted by someone wearing a mask for personal safety. Masks have always been a part of healthcare and is usually encouraged even outside of Covid. We were told to wear them on the ambulance pre Covid for patients with certain symptoms.

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