Safely Working Together

Rhea-AI Summary

Quest Diagnostics has prioritized the safety of its workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing various measures to facilitate a safe return to on-site work. The company established a cross-functional taskforce to develop safety protocols, including testing, vaccination events, and PPE requirements. As a result, workplace transmission of the virus has remained low among its nearly 50,000 employees. A phased return-to-office process began in March 2022, continually guided by CDC recommendations. Multiple vaccination events were organized across the country in collaboration with local health services, ensuring that all employees had access to vaccinations. Overall, the company’s proactive measures have allowed it to maintain and expand its services during the pandemic.

Positive

• Implemented comprehensive safety protocols during the pandemic to protect nearly 50,000 employees.
• Maintained low workplace transmission rates of COVID-19.
• Successfully established vaccination events and partnerships, enhancing employee accessibility to vaccines.
• Phased return-to-office process began in March 2022, demonstrating agility in response to changing conditions.

Negative

• None.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2023 / Quest Diagnostics

"When the COVID-19 pandemic began to roar across our country, we all had to reimagine nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we work and collaborate while continuing to fulfill the needs of our patients, customers, and communities. Safety is, and always has been, our primary concern."

Steven E. Goldberg, MD Vice President, Medical Affairs and Population Health

While office-based employees worked remotely during the pandemic, the majority of our nearly 50,000 colleagues were literally on the front lines in 2021, continuing to work at our lab facilities, in logistics and transport, and in our patient service centers. Safety protocols had to be updated continually as conditions evolved.

Early in the pandemic, Quest assembled a cross- functional taskforce with representatives from the company's Medical, Human Resources, Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities, Legal, and Communications teams to assemble policies and procedures. Continuing to protect the safety of those on-site, and ultimately returning our administrative employees back to our facilities, is informed by 4 core principles: safety, agility, unity, and business continuity. Multiple measures were implemented-including testing and contact tracing procedures, masking and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, occupancy limits, increased cleaning, on-site vaccination events (see sidebar), social distancing, and other mitigation efforts-to help us navigate the pandemic. As a result of our combined efforts, we have been able to keep workplace transmission low.

As part of our efforts, we provided all colleagues with a digital "playbook" that clearly communicates our framework and procedures for working together safely. The playbook stresses that it is incumbent upon all of us to adhere to these guidelines to keep one another safe and healthy on-site and in our homes. These efforts have allowed Quest to maintain and expand services when our communities needed us most.

Returning to working safely on-site

The health and safety of our workforce has been our top priority while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. We closely monitored pandemic trends and current CDC guidance. Fortunately, we were able to plan for and determine a safe, phased, and flexible return-to-office process that began mid-March 2022.

Quest took multiple steps to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to all Quest colleagues:

• Albertsons' vaccination events: Wood Dale, IL; Houston and Lewisville, TX; Baltimore, MD; as well as private appointments across the country
• Local partnerships: RANN Pharmacy near our Horsham lab and Collegeville PD offices; Managed Health Solutions at our Atlanta, GA lab; the Denver Department of Health at our Denver, CO facility; and mPathy in Marlborough, MA
• Vaccination clinics: St. Louis, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; and Lenexa, KS labs, by our own Employer Population Health division

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SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/751413/Safely-Working-Together

FAQ

What safety measures did Quest Diagnostics implement during COVID-19?

Quest Diagnostics implemented testing, contact tracing, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and increased cleaning to ensure employee safety.

When did Quest Diagnostics begin its phased return to the office?

Quest Diagnostics began its phased return-to-office process in mid-March 2022.

How many employees does Quest Diagnostics have?

Quest Diagnostics has nearly 50,000 employees.

What vaccination efforts were made by Quest Diagnostics?

Quest Diagnostics organized vaccination events in various locations and partnered with local health services to provide vaccinations to employees.

What is the source of Quest Diagnostics' COVID-19 safety guidelines?

The safety guidelines were developed by a cross-functional taskforce informed by CDC recommendations.