CRMC suspends COVID mandate

By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ

COOKEVILLE – Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) notified employees Tuesday morning of the temporary suspension of all efforts to comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate. This action comes as a result of an injunction issued late yesterday by Federal Judge Terry A. Doughty in the U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana that temporarily pauses President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers nationwide.

In addition to suspending the vaccination requirement, CRMC will also put all filed exemption requests on hold until the courts issue further legal decisions on the matter.

As of Monday, 71.1% of CRMC employees and 87% of the medical staff were vaccinated. 

See related story: Louisiana federal judge blocks vaccine mandate for healthcare workers nationwide

CRMC continues to encourage its employees to protect themselves and others by vaccinating against the virus.

The CRMC employee email stated, “Vaccination is the single most important step that you can take to help CRMC achieve our goal of providing the safest environment for our staff and patients. We will continue to conduct the vaccine clinic here at CRMC and we continue to encourage all staff members to receive the vaccination to minimize the risk of transmission to our patients and coworkers.  

“We know this has been a hard decision for many of you, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure you are made aware of any changes to the law or to CRMC policy…As we await decisions from higher courts, let’s take this opportunity to unite again around our CRMC mission of serving our community with clinical excellence and compassionate care. Let’s make this Christmas season a time of peace, joy, and reflection on our blessings, as we bless others in the way we care for them.”

Michelle Price is the former managing editor of the Upper Cumberland Business Journal and can be reached via email. Send an email.

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