Cites Safety for Team Members, Clients and Community as Rationale
SEATTLE, WA – June 28 – Patrick Evans, President & CEO of Sound, one of the region’s largest providers of behavioral healthcare services, announced that the healthcare organization will require all team members, interns and onsite contractors to receive their full Covid-19 vaccinations by Aug. 23, 2021.
The organization’s vaccination policy, shared in a June 24 company-wide email to all team members, was developed to ensure the health, safety and well-being of its more than 15,000 clients and more than 500 team members employed there. With the health of the community at stake, Sound’s policy was carefully developed based on recommendations by the Centers For Disease Control and public health authorities, and in compliance with ADA and Title VII accommodations.
Safety and accountability to the community were central issues behind the decision.
“As a large healthcare organization that literally impacts the lives of thousands of individuals each day, including clients, families, team members, partners and the community at large, we believe it is our duty and the right thing to do,” says Evans. “We made this decision to require vaccinations after thoughtful and intentional discussion among our leadership team and with an overriding commitment to reduce the rate of infection for Covid-19 in our community.”
Evans also communicated in the memo that it will consider exemptions for religious or medical reasons, and otherwise make reasonable accommodations for individuals who meet strict criteria and provide appropriate documentation, as long as it does not threaten the safety or create undue hardship on other team members or clients.
This policy will apply to future team members and interns as a condition of employment.
About Sound
An independent, private nonprofit for more than 50 years, Sound has served the most complex addiction and behavioral health issues in our community, providing high quality, comprehensive whole health services throughout the region. Sound is currently providing expanded telehealth services and provides primary care in a number of locations. The organization is an early adopter of Reaching Recovery, an evidence-based clinical model that promotes high levels of client engagement, improves outcomes and enables providers to better measure a client’s recovery. Sound stands at the forefront of the healthcare field, accepting the most difficult cases and exploring new approaches to care. Our goal is to help individuals and families achieve the highest level of independence possible by providing whole health solutions including addiction treatment, mental health, vocational, supportive housing and many other services. To learn more, visit www.sound.health.