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Contact: Karl Hertz

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Patients Asked To Monitor For Additional Symptoms - COVID-19

We have updated the list of symptoms those in the community should monitor for when screening for COVID-19. Previously the list of major symptoms to screen for included dry cough, shortness of breath and a fever of over 100.4. Given the variance in symptoms presenting in COVID-19 patients, we are asking members of our community to monitor for the following:

Fever (over 100.4), Chills, Cough, Congestion or Runny Nose, Diarrhea, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle and/or Body Aches, New Loss of Taste or Smell, Nausea or Vomiting, Shortness of Breath Difficulty Breathing, and Sore Throat

This list does not include all possible symptoms of COVID-19 Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness. This list is also available on our COVID-19 Information page on our site: https://www.conversehospital.com/covid19/

Changes To Visitation Policies At MHCC - Effective Immediately

As of Thursday, November 5th, Memorial Hospital of Converse County has effectively implemented the following visitation policies in the departments outlined below. These policies reflect an effort to minimize the amount of traffic through various parts of the hospital due to the rise of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses in our communities and reduce the risk of exposure to our community of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. While we enjoy having community members visit our facilities, we must encourage discretion and ask that unnecessary trips to the hospital buildings are minimized. Thank you for your understanding.

All visitors to hospital buildings are required to wear a mask in all areas at all times to protect patients who may be immunocompromised. The hospital has the right to mandate mask wearing within all of our facilities or buildings pursuant to a Motion from the Commissioners of Converse County dated November 4th, 2020. All visitors will be asked to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the patient who is being visited.

Visitors are defined as and not limited to: patient advocates, parent/guardian, friend, family member, or a support person.

Emergency Department

• One visitor is allowed or at the discretion of the physician.

Med/Surg and Intensive Care Unit

• Up to one visitor per day.

Mother/Baby Unit

• One support person is allowed during the entire visit.

Ultrasound

• One support person is allowed.

PACU

• One support person is allowed with surgical patient
• Pediatric surgical patients are allowed up to two visitors

All Clinics

• Visitors will be determined at the discretion of the provider

Urgent Care

• Visitors will be determined at the discretion of the provider

Hospital Staff

• Visitors of hospital staff should meet in public areas (not in patient care areas)
• Visitors will be asked to wear a mask

COVID Patients

• Visitors for COVID-19 positive patients will be at the discretion of the provider.
• Visitors will be requested to sign a COVID-19 consent to visit.
• Visitors will be provided with and required to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Spiritual care will be allowed at the patients' request. The spiritual care person (clergy) will be requested to sign a COVID-19 consent to visit and wear a mask.

General Visitation Policies

• All visitors will be asked to wear a mask and other personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the patient who is being visited.
• No children will be allowed to visit who are under sixteen (16) years of age.
• Pediatric patients may have at most 2 parent/guardians.

Veterans Day Luncheon Cancelled

Due to the current rise in COVID-19 cases in our community, we will not be offering our free prime rib lunch for veterans on Veterans Day this year. We are filled with gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our veterans and hope that we will be able to offer this small act of that appreciation next year.

Further Updates To Changes In Operations (those bolded and italicized are updates):

COVID-19 spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. In order to keep our patients and staff safe, Memorial Hospital has enacted the following measures.

• Patients are asked to monitor for additional symptoms of COVID-19
• Visitors to the hospital must wear masks in all locations and at all times
• The annual Veteran’s Day luncheon is cancelled
• The Ambassador Program and Care Ride are suspended for the foreseeable future.
• Visitations policies to the hospital have changed, effective immediately
• The Respiratory Illness Clinic site is supported by Medical Office Building and Emergency Department staff.
• All MHCC Clinics and Services are open and supporting in-person appointments.
• Telehealth visits are offered for patients.
• The Hospital Main Entrance will be open and monitored Monday thru Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM.
• All hospital exterior doors will remain locked after hours.
• The Emergency Department Entrance Will Remain Open 24 Hrs.

COVID-19 Hotline:

Memorial Hospital has established a COVID-19 Hotline for patients with questions or concerns about their symptoms. The Hotline is managed by the Emergency Department at MHCC. Patients who call the Hotline with symptoms will be asked a series of questions. Treatment advice will be given based on the patient’s answers. The Hotline Number is (307) 358-7399.