COVID-19 Patient FAQ

Our hospital is clean and safe – just like it always has been! One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our physical facility. We partner with a national environmental services vendor to keep our hospital current on the most effective cleaning and disinfection protocols available in healthcare today.

• We comply with best practices for infection prevention of infectious diseases like COVID-19, which include:
  • following hand hygiene protocol and utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times
  • ensuring availability and access to hand sanitizer and soap throughout the facility
  • using proper disinfectants, cleaning agents and supplies that meet state and federal infection control standards
• Our teams conduct terminal cleaning and disinfection of all sterile areas, including operating and procedural rooms, in accordance with industry standards and best practices.
• We have enhanced cleaning and disinfection of high-touch items and surfaces in high-traffic areas of our facility, including our emergency room, lobbies, waiting areas, hallways, restrooms, elevators.
• Inspections and rounding have been increased to monitor compliance of our multi-step cleaning and disinfection process.
• In addition to reinforcing our routine cleaning techniques, we are also educating and training our teams on the latest guidance and recommendations for infection prevention related to COVID-19.
• We validate cleaning and disinfection of spaces and surfaces through UV / black light monitoring and testing.

Learn more about the ways we are maintaining a safe and clean environment.

Our clinical teams will conduct twice daily "go/no-go" meetings in which they will review crucial supplies such as PPE, medications, blood, space and staffing to ensure that we have enough to comfortably care for those undergoing elective/non-urgent procedures AND accommodate our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

We are not booking our schedules to full capacity. Out of an abundance of caution and with the conservation of supplies in mind, we are not starting with a full schedule right away. Should things continue to progress positively, we'll increase our capacity on a week-by-week basis. This is for your safety and ours.

Our team regularly monitors staffing levels to ensure a safe environment for all patients, providers and employees. In addition, we screen all employees daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We are confident that we have the appropriate staff and providers to resume elective and non-urgent procedures while also accommodating our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

Your experience in our facility may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon arrival at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a cloth mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask or bandana to cover your mouth and nose, you can wear that.

We continue to operate under limited visitor restrictions out of an abundance of caution.

You may never see another patient while you are here, and that is intentional for now. We are currently trying to minimize overlap in an effort to promote social distancing, conserve resources, and protect the safety of all of our patients and employees.

You are going to be asked COVID-19 screening questions multiple times by multiple people, up until you are admitted for your procedure. You may get tired of these questions, but we assure you they are for your health and safety, and that of our staff.

You may never see the faces of your care team members under their protective equipment. We do regret this, as the personal connections we have with our patients and community are what keep us going. However, this is an important precaution we are taking to protect you and our clinical staff.

The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have....

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Or at least two of these symptoms:

• Fever
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your procedure has to be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be asked to practice "safer at home" behaviors for seven (7) days to minimize potential exposure prior to your procedure. This means going a step further from social distancing — trying only to leave your home for critical needs such as groceries or going to the pharmacy. If you need to leave for an essential purpose, you must wear a mask. You also will be asked to check your temperature twice a day during this seven-day period and report any result above 100°F to your provider. Finally, you will be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure as an additional precaution.

If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure. Your provider will place the order for the test, and the hospital will reach out with instructions for scheduling. If your test happens to be positive, your procedure will be postponed, and you will be given instructions related to your care. If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

Patients will be limited to one WELL visitor per day, including one companion for ambulatory appointments.

Our Extended Care Unit (ECU) is still operating under a zero visitor protocol.

When you arrive at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a cloth mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask or bandana to cover your mouth and nose, you can wear that.

We are not performing elective/non-urgent procedures on COVID-19 positive patients at this time.

All patients who test positive for an infectious disease, including COVID-19, are isolated for treatment in accordance with the NC Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) and CDC guidelines. Our hospital has a dedicated isolation unit for treatment of patients under investigation (PUIs) and patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

On weekdays, please call 336.503.5796. After hours and on weekends, please contact the house supervisor at 336.599.2121, ext 584.