Aug 12, 2021

Restrictions continue at HRMC, but no vaccine mandate thus far

Posted Aug 12, 2021 4:26 PM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Regional Medical Center employees are mostly vaccinated, according to Chuck Welch with the hospital.

"We were at 75% for awhile," Welch said. "We're north of that now. I haven't seen the latest, but I know that we're trending toward 80%."

Welch said the hospital does not, at this point, plan to mandate COVID-19 vaccination.

"We discuss this topic almost every day as an executive team," Welch said. "Right now, with the volunteer adoption of the vaccine, the trend that we're moving toward 100%, we really want to stay away from mandating anything as long as we can."

The hospital still does mandate masks for anyone inside, though.

"Masks are still required," Welch said. "We're allowing two visitors that can be rotated out. Masks are absolutely required throughout the facility. I really don't see that changing in the foreseeable future. We were first in on the masks. We'll probably be last out."

The hospital also requires a temperature check for visitors to the facility, as well.