March 30th COVID-19 Update from Clara Barton Hospital & Clinics
UPDATES:
· We have implemented a temporary No Visitor Policy effective immediately at Clara Barton Hospital. Exceptions to this policy may be made on a case by case basis regarding end-of-life situations. These changes reflect Clara Barton Hospital’s commitment to ensure the safety of our patients, employees and communities and to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Please understand this is not an easy decision and not meant to be impolite, but we feel it is necessary at this time. We will lift this restriction as soon as we feel it is safe to do so. We appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.
While our no-visitor policy is in place, please consider an alternate means of providing support:
- Call or text the patient
- Facetime or Skype the patient - Send a digital greeting via https://www.clarabartonhospital.com/send-an-ecard
· Walk-In Clinic and Walk-In Lab Draws at all Clara Barton Medical Clinics have been suspended until further notice. Please call the Clinic to make an appointment.
· Clara Barton Medical Clinic is now offering tele-health services, allowing you to be seen by your provider in the comfort of your own home. If you wish to schedule a tele-health visit with your provider, please call the clinic at 620-653-2386.
· If you come to a Clara Barton Clinic and are asked to wear a mask, please do not remove the mask until you have left the facility.
The Staff at Clara Barton Hospital and Clinics have been working around the clock to ensure the safety of both our patients and our staff. We will continue to keep you informed of the latest updates and procedures being implemented at Clara Barton to better protect you, your family, patients, and Clara Barton Employees. Please know we are fully prepared to care for you in the event you or a loved one are diagnosed with the virus and are doing our very best to help prevent the spread of this virus throughout our communities. Together we will get through this!
Please be reminded of the following:
- Patients arriving at both Clara Barton Hospital or any Clara Barton Medical Clinic will be met at the door by a Clara Barton staff member who will immediately initiate a screening. Please be sure to stop and allow for these screening procedures, as it will assist us in determining if the patient has symptoms of the coronavirus. The staff member may ask you to put on a mask. If you are asked to wear a mask, please do so in order to protect both yourself and other patients. Do not remove your mask until you have left the facility.
- The front door to Clara Barton Hospital will be unlocked from 6 AM – 6 PM. Upon arrival you will be screened by a CBH staff member. From 6 PM – 6 AM the hospital doors will remain locked. Patients are asked to ring the buzzer on the outside of the front door and screening questions will be asked via intercom before the patient can enter the building. Clinic doors will be unlocked at their usual time and staff will initiate a screening upon entering the lobby.
- If you feel as if you have symptoms of the coronavirus and plan to be seen at the clinic or in the ER, please call us before your arrival at 620-653-2386. Calling ahead allows us to take the proper precautions necessary in order to avoid the potential spread of the virus to other patients or staff members. When you call, your call will be triaged and you will be asked a few questions. They will then direct you to the appropriate area of the hospital or clinic.
- There is criteria that has been put into place in order to be tested for the coronavirus, but we do not set this criteria. Criteria is set by the KDHE and CDC, therefore you may or may not be tested for the virus depending upon your symptoms, travel history, and other conditions. If you develop symptoms, please contact your primary care provider for further direction.
- We encourage you to continue practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing to help prevent the spread of this virus. This includes social distancing in our lobby areas. Please ensure there are at least 2 chairs between you other patients sitting in the lobby.
- As your local community healthcare facility, we are following the recommendations set forth by the American College of Surgeons, the CDC, and KDHE recommending we halt all elective surgeries at this time. We are doing this in the best interest of our patients in order to avoid potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Emergency surgeries will still be performed as needed. Although there are currently no cases in the county, we are following these precautionary measures to protect the health and wellbeing of our patients.
- There will be no outreach clinic visits at any of our clinic locations through the end of April. Please contact your outreach provider if you have questions regarding your appointment.
For more information on the coronavirus, please visit our website at https://www.clarabartonhospital.com/coronavirus-information, the KDHE website at http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/, or call the Barton County Coronavirus Hotline at 620-796-5609.