Health Info | Corona

HEALTH INFO:

For the Wapello County Emergency Management Agency's COVID-19 flyer with medical provider contact info, CLICK HERE. (PDF File)

Monroe County Hospital & Clinics COVID-19 Precautions - Modifications to Visitor Restrictions (6-23-20)

Albia, IA – We are slowly beginning to lift visitor restrictions. We have eased our guidelines because we recognize the benefit of patients having a support person with them during their appointment, medical procedure, or hospitalization. As we enter in the “new normal” phase, we remain committed to providing a safe environment for patients, staff,
visitors and enhance the overall patient experience.

New visitor guidelines will be monitored as appropriate to maintain the correct safety measures for all.

Effective Wednesday June 24, 2020, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics (MCHC) has released new guidelines for visitors/support persons:

All visitors to MCHC will follow screening procedures; anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to enter the facility at any time.

One visitor that has been predetermined by the patient will be allowed to visit during the patients visit.

There will be no substitutions or trading shifts for visitors.

The visitor may not be present during any intermittent or continuous aerosol generating procedure or for 2 hours after.

Visitors only allowed in the patient room or other area in which the patient they are visiting is located.

No use of waiting rooms or the cafeteria.

For surgeries/procedures, visitors are allowed pre-procedure but after the patient is taken back for their procedures, the visitor will exit the facility and wait for a call from the facility to come and pick up the patient.

Visitors should be reminded, while visiting:

Perform frequent hand hygiene.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when washing their hands is not an option.

Wear a mask from home upon entry into our facility and throughout the visit.

Visitors who fail to agree to wear a mask will be asked to leave.

Hospital visiting hours have been reserved from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Visitation to COVID-19 positive or patients under investigation is prohibited.

Visitation to COVID-19 positive or patients under investigation will only be permitted by state/local law or if the patient meets compassionate care exception criteria:

o Children (minor, 17 years of age and under)
o Patients receiving end-of-life care.
o Developmentally/Cognitively impaired adults.

Restrictions remaining in place:

To limit exposures within our facility, outside entrances will be locked except for the Medical Clinic entrance (East parking lot) and the Emergency Room entrance (West parking lot). Patients will need to use one of these entrances to access the building for appointments or emergency care.

If you are a Medical Clinic patient, please enter through the Medical Clinic
entrance located in our East parking lot.

All other patients/visitors, please enter through our Emergency Services
entrance located in our West parking lot.

The MCHC Bistro (cafeteria) is closed to all general public until further notice.

No vendors are allowed inside the building, unless prior approval.
As a reminder, we encourage the community to follow the best practices from the CDC and IDPH to help prevent the spread of all viruses:

Stay home if you are sick.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Disinfect surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

At MCHC, we are following guidance provided by the CDC and IDPH to screen all who enter MCHC for symptoms including fever and respiratory signs as well as the patient’s travel history and exposure to those who have traveled. This screening process includes all who enter our facility.

If you have general questions on COVID-19, please dial 2-1-1. If you begin to experience symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19, call your primary care provider before coming in.

Monroe County Hospital & Clinics Visitor Restrictions Tightened (5-5-20)

Due to increasing number of positive COVID-19 cases in the surrounding area, Monroe County Hospital & Clinics (MCHC) has implemented further restrictions. Effective Tuesday May 5, 2020, MCHC is instituting the following restrictions:

Further Visitor Restrictions have been issued to restrict unnecessary additional visitors unless assisting a patient or accompanying a minor. These restrictions will remain in place until further notice. If you have special requests, please call ahead for direction. (641-932-2134)

Inpatient Care (Medical-Surgical), Medical Clinic, Emergency Room,
Outpatient/Specialty Clinic, Surgery - No Visitors Allowed, unless:
One parent/caregiver allowed with minor child
One parent/caregiver allowed with dependent

End of Life Care: Please call ahead for direction. (641-932-2134)

To limit exposures within our facility, outside entrances will remain locked except for the Medical Clinic entrance (East parking lot) and the Emergency Room entrance (West parking lot). Patients will need to use one of these entrances to access the building for appointments or emergency care.

If you are a Medical Clinic patient, please enter through the Medical Clinic entrance located in our East parking lot.

All other patients, please enter through our Emergency Services entrance located in our West parking lot.

The MCHC Bistro (cafeteria) remains closed until further notice.
As a reminder, we encourage the community to follow the best practices from the CDC and IDPH to help prevent the spread of all viruses:

Stay home if you are sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Disinfect surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

IDPH posts statewide numbers of persons being monitored, persons being tested and test results on the IDPH webpage at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus. Visit this web page often for up-to-date information and follow the department on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.

Another great resource is, coronavirus.iowa.gov. This site issues the latest resources, maps and information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Mahaska Health to Resume Elective Procedures April 27th (4-27-20)

During her address on April 24th, Governor Reynolds issued a new State Public Health Emergency Declaration, which replaces her March 26 order to ban all elective surgeries and nonessential medical procedures. Under the new order, which takes effect at 5:00 am on April 27, hospitals and providers may resume elective surgeries and nonessential medical procedures so long as they meet specific criteria for:

Personal Protective Equipment Supply
COVID-19 Testing
Hospital-Only Requirements for Bed Capacity

As early as next week, Mahaska Health will begin conducting some elective surgeries previously suspended by the ban.

Hospital leadership emphasized their approach is cautious and will likely be gradual. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Timothy Breon stated, “We support the governor and her approach to safely opening up elective surgeries on April 27th. We have plans in place to facilitate this process and accommodate our patients, and we look forward to serving our community and appreciate their trust in us to continue to provide safe and compassionate care.”

Mahaska Health has continued to provide care to the community by developing and implementing numerous protocols to keep patients, visitors, and employees safe.

Dr. Breon shared, “As a provider, and CMO, we are really looking forward to serving our patients. We are ready to move ahead with plans that we have put in place to resume more of our routine activities in the hospital and conducting some elective procedures.”

The decision to resume some elective surgical procedures is well supported by plans and safety protocols Mahaska Health has established. Dr. Breon says these plans take into full consideration the safety and health of patients. “We are going to resume these services while maintaining safe practices, using personal protective equipment, maximizing social distancing, continuing to provide in car screenings, along with following established safety measures and guidelines – which will continue to evolve over the weeks and months to come.”

Patients may contact their provider to discuss rescheduling a postponed procedure.