Practice Management Alert

Question: The data about COVID-19 and pregnancy has been a bit scarce, and the guidance all over the place. Should pregnant healthcare personnel have their jobs adjusted so that they aren’t facing any COVID-19 exposure?

South Dakota Subscriber

Answer: The current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that providers may want to limit exposure for pregnant people as much as possible. The CDC says: “Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-pregnant people.” The SARS-CoV-2 virus also may affect the fetus, a possibility that should also be taken into account; “there might be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, among pregnant people with COVID-19,” the CDC says. If you have the staff availability and flexibility, the CDC recommends trying to limit exposure of pregnant healthcare personnel to patients who are confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.