COVID-19 FAQ

The declination form and the supporting document to request religious exemption can be found on the AMN Passport app via your brand web portal, and/or your credentialing analyst can provide you a copy.

*Requests for exemption for medical or religious reasons do require additional documentation so that the accommodation request can be reviewed.

Medical: Letter on Provider letterhead with signature (MD/DO/NP/PA) and/or stamp indicating the medical reason you are not able to receive the vaccine.

Religious: Complete the “Request for Religious Accommodation/Exemption to COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement.” form. All fields need to be completed.

Personal: Many states and clients do not accept personal exemptions. Please work with your Recruiter and Credentialing Analyst to ensure that your assignment location accepts personal exemptions.

AMN Healthcare is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any protected status and a work environment that is free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

Many organizations that provided vaccines required you to be registered within their system in order to be vaccinated. Reach out to them to see if they can provide you with an electronic copy of your vaccine record which can serve as proof of vaccination.

Another option is using the state tracking system for vaccines. These systems monitor vaccines across the state, including COVID-19.

Every state has a tracking system for COVID-19 vaccines. Go to the appropriate state system to find a record of your vaccination.

As the process for vaccination moves forward, we expect that QR codes will eventually be available to validate your vaccination.

Consider downloading one of the Vaccine Passports to hold your documentation.

Download our new AMN Passport App! Available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

While federal, state, local, and facility-level requirements vary, the list of facilities that require healthcare providers be vaccinated is growing. Depending on the state and client, clinicians may be able to provide an exemption by requesting a religious or medical exemption. We do have a few clients that have mandates in states that don’t have mandates that may accept personal declination as well.

As with any exemption request supporting documentation would be required. Medical supporting documentation typically would need to be a written statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that, in the physician’s, nurse practitioner’s or physician assistant’s professional judgment, the COVID-19 vaccine may be medically inadvisable.

For religious exemption, we would need you to complete an AMN supporting documentation that clearly communicates your sincerely held religious beliefs and how that conflicts with your receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The declination/exemption document plus the supporting documentation will then be reviewed for approval. Facility-level requirements will dictate the requirements clinicians must follow in order to continue to work, i.e., frequent testing, PPE.

A number of key professional organizations support COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare professionals:

American Medical Association

American Nurses Association

American Pharmacists Association

American Academy of PAs

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

AMN Healthcare is working with our facilities to set realistic deadlines for vaccinations to be completed. Please contact your Credentialing Analyst for details at your assignment location.

Yes, AMN is not mandating COVID-19 vaccination.

Please send proof of your vaccination status to the email address that corresponds with the division you work in.

Travel Nursing: Kofax.credentialing@amnhealthcare

Local Nursing or Allied (per diem or contract): psglocal@amnservices.com

Allied Travel: Kofax.credentialing@amnhealthcare.com

Locum Tenens: Send directly to your recruiter or credentialing analyst

Revenue Cycle Solutions: RCSCompliance@amnhealthcare.com

We encourage you to contact the facility leader and follow the established facility policy and procedure. Remember that most vaccines have expected side effects to include sore arm, fatigue, low-grade fever. These generally last only a day or two. (CDC Vaccine Side Effects)

In addition to facility notification, please notify your recruiter and your customer support team member if you have missed a shift due to a vaccine reaction.

If you develop severe symptoms or believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction, please seek medical attention at the facility's designated location and inform your AMN Healthcare representative. For additional information, please refer to the CDC.

Many facilities do allow for medical or religious exceptions. Please contact your Credentialing Analyst to determine exactly what documentation your facility requires.

CDC guidelines indicate that TB testing should not be delayed due to the COVID vaccine. TB Tests (any type) can be done before, after, or during the same encounter as the COVID-19 vaccination. (CDC, 2021)

The CDC is recommending COVID-19 booster shots after any of the FDA-approved vaccines. Booster shots for the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are recommended five months after the second dose. If you received Johnson & Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends a booster two months after your single dose vaccine. (CDC, 2021). The CDC also recommends a second booster four months after last does for those over the age of 55.

Some facilities, local and/or state agencies are requiring booster shot documentation once you become eligible. COVID-19 booster shots can be obtained without cost at local health departments, pharmacies, provider offices and other locations.

The CMS mandate requires almost all healthcare professionals to provide a booster shot status once eligible. If you are not on assignment where there is a state/client/local mandate to have such documentation on file, and you have not received your booster and do not plan to, your status will remain as is. If you do plan to get a booster shot or have a medical/religious reason for not receiving any of the COVID-19 vaccines, please send in documentation or your exemption request as soon as you can to help ensure have up-to-date vaccination status.

The CDC recommends a 2^nd booster for those over age 50, and, as more data is analyzed, additional boosters may be recommended.

AMN Healthcare has learned that there is no direct cost for the vaccine. Any administrative costs will be covered by us on your behalf. If the facility you are working at has any questions about billing please direct them to their AMN Healthcare representative.

AMN Healthcare supports CDC guidelines for pregnant healthcare professionals. If you have any questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak with your medical provider. See additional FAQs from the CDC.

We are seeing an increase in state, client and federal mandates that are requiring vaccination for healthcare workers. If you are not vaccinated based on medical or religious reasons you can submit an exemption request including supporting documentation to be reviewed for approval.

AMN Healthcare protects the privacy and security of your personal health information. The healthcare facilities may request more information as part of their assessment prior to administering the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure your safety. Please let your AMN Healthcare representative know if you have any questions or concerns.

Fortunately, the availability of the free COVID-19 vaccine has increased greatly. Vaccines are available at large clinics, physician offices, urgent care centers, and local pharmacies. Check with these resources or local state/county websites.

This varies based on the assignment and the facility requirements. Your recruiter will work with you to find another assignment if your existing assignment has to be cancelled.

AMN encourages our healthcare professionals (HPs) to care for patients in a non-discriminatory manner. However, if you are unsure of the hospital policies and procedures in caring for a Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patient, or have concerns that you do not have appropriate training or PPE available according to CDC guidelines and hospital policy, immediately escalate your concerns to your immediate facility leader. Please ask to speak with your designated AMN contact if you have additional safety concerns or are unsure about your training and ability to provide quality patient care.

Resources:

Retrieved 04.13.2020

Reviewed 06.25.2020

CDC FAQs

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 we recommend that you follow the CDC guidelines for testing to see if you have contracted COVID-19. If you do test positive, please notify your recruiter/consultant. If you are using AMN Passport, you can contact your Clinical Manager directly through the Passport app.

Use your clinical judgment and take precautionary measures to ensure your safety and the safety of others from potential exposure risks. If you develop any fever (measured temperature > 100°F) OR respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat), you should immediately self-isolate, notify AMN (employer) via your recruitment partner. For those using AMN Passport: You can reach your Clinical Manager directly using the Passport app.

Resources:

CDC, 2021

AMN Healthcare understands how worrisome and uncertain a diagnosis of COVID-19 can be. We are committed to supporting our healthcare professionals as much as possible. If you require additional days out of work, past the initial quarantined period, please connect with your AMN representative to discuss the best options for your needs.

While we appreciate that you want to help, your current facility is counting on you to provide much-needed patient care and to fulfill your contract. Leaving your contract early could put your fellow colleagues in a position where they are not able to provide the patient care needed during this crisis. We are here for you as you prepare for your next assignment and we’ll continue to work together on the optimal position for you based on where you’re needed most.

A number of key professional organizations support COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare professionals:

American Medical Association

American Nurses Association

American Pharmacists Association

American Academy of PAs

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

AMN follows the return to work criteria set by your facility. The AMN team partners with the facility so that you can begin picking up shifts as quickly as possible once clearance has been obtained. Please connect with your AMN representative to learn more about your specific situation.

COVID 19 testing is widely available through various state and local agencies and through healthcare facilities. There are over 15,000 local sites that can provide testing.

Home testing kits are low cost through your local pharmacy and may be an acceptable testing option.

COVID Testing Resources

While this is an unfortunate situation, it can and does happen due to circumstances out of our control. This is determined by individual facility policies and practices. AMN Healthcare will partner with the facility to determine the first, safest time for you to return to the assignment, assess your current assignment and provide you with potential options and support.

Our amazing Recruitment, 24/7 Clinical, Customer Support and Credentialing teams are here for you. Contact them directly through AMN Passport or through your recruitment partner.

If you have a positive COVID-19 test or symptoms of COVID-19, contact your recruitment partner. If using the AMN Passport app, contact your Clinical Manager.

This varies based on the assignment and the facility requirements. Your recruiter will work with you to find another assignment if your existing assignment has to be cancelled.

Our talent team and client-facing team members are working together to evaluate needs in the market related to the crisis. We already have a very strong roster of candidates ready to deploy in most areas. In critical areas of need (i.e., infection control), we are making investments in digital sourcing strategies and dedicating resources to build a pipeline to meet your expectations when you need us most.

In many situations, we can get you an Interim on-site in as little as one week. Each situation is unique, but the faster we can capture information and launch into the search, the quicker we can find you a solution.

We know this is a serious issue for our clients and healthcare professionals, and we are here to help.

We have implemented screening and protection protocols with the information provided by the CDC, American Hospital Association, and American Nurses Association for healthcare professionals being placed on new assignments.

We have reminded all healthcare professionals currently on assignment to follow their facility’s infection protection and screening protocols and provided them with additional CDC and World Health Organization resources.

Upon AMN Healthcare receiving communication of exposure to or illness due to COVID-19, a member of the AMN Healthcare Clinical Management Team will contact the healthcare professional, gather key information, and provide support. The Clinical Manager, Account Manager and Healthcare Professional work with the Client facility to determine when the Healthcare Professional can safely return to work.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the following websites:

American Hospital Association

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Clinician On-Call Center 24-hour Hotline

CDC FAQs

Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers

The Joint Commission Coronavirus (COVID-19)

World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)

If you would like to speak with a CDC clinician on a wide range of COVID-19 topics, you can contact the CDC Clinician On-Call Center’s 24-hour hotline at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).

Resources:

Retrieved 04.13.2020

Reviewed 06.25.2020

This is up to your organization’s policies and practices as the employer of record to the healthcare professional.

At AMN, there is an official path to being furloughed/quarantined. It is not one person’s decision but rather an official path, with guidelines determined by the CDC in partnerships with hospital officials.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc (NCSBN) has compiled information about emergency action by states. Included: whether the state is in the NLC, if there is an emergency licensing waiver and applicable statutory/administrative provisions (e.g., nurse practice act, emergency management statutes, etc.).
Disclaimer: This information has been gathered from a variety of sources. Although NCSBN has made every effort to provide complete, accurate and up-to-date information, NCSBN makes no warranties, express or implied, or representations as to the accuracy or reliability of this information. The information is fluid and evolving. NCSBN assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained in this resource.

AMN requests that suppliers submit their screening form within 10 days of the start date. Credentialing will review to determine if it meets AMN standards.

If a supplier doesn’t have a screening form, AMN will share our screening form with them.

AMN will track and manage communications with clients. Suppliers must communicate with the CDC and the Department of Public Health.

AMN fully supports a compassionate caring model aligned with Just Culture principles to address concerns and fears expressed by healthcare professionals. We are all committed to providing safe, effective high-quality care and reliable service. As such, AMN Clinical Leaders can support you in the discussion with your employees to ensure they have received the appropriate information on facility policy/procedures, receive education, training, personal protective equipment to care for patients at risk for or known to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
If your employees/healthcare professionals are unsure of the hospital policies and procedures in caring for a novel Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) patient or have concerns regarding facility resources (e.g. appropriate PPE available according to CDC guidelines and hospital policy), please contact your assigned AMN Clinical Leader to discuss these safety concerns.
If your healthcare professionals believe they have the required competencies, equipment, support, but have a unique personal issue that places them at higher risk for transmission, then these issues are addressed on a case by case basis and managed with consultation from Facility Leaders. The American Nurses Association encourages nurses to care for patients in a non-discriminatory manner.

AMN has set up a COVID-19 Response Team to receive and manage communication to clients, partners, healthcare professionals (clinician, provider, leader, interpreter, etc.) across all divisions and business lines. There are centralized points of contact for the business lines and corresponding clinical leaders to triage information, issues of concern and manage communication.

AMN strongly encourages consistency and standardization in the screening process to mitigate risk and promote quality, safety and compliance. If you need additional support in implementing the screening of your healthcare professionals, please contact your assigned AMN Clinical & Credentialing Leaders.
When your healthcare professional discloses recent travel or planned travel to any of the affected locations designated by the CDC and WHO, we request immediate disclosure to AMN. Our clinical team supports you through the screening process and determination of the next steps with the facility.