Keeping Patients Safe at Appointments

Published On: May 8th, 2020|Categories: News|

We want to be sure that patients feel safe as they resume their regular health care appointments at Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic (MCHC). Checkups, physicals, well-child appointments and vaccinations are all important steps in keeping people healthy and addressing health concerns.

How are we keeping our patients safe?

First, we are only providing COVID-19 care and testing in one designated room in the Clinic that is equipped with negative air pressure. This allows other patients to safely receive care in other Clinic rooms. Separating patients with COVID-19 symptoms from our healthy patients who need other types of care is one of our most important precautions. Here are other safety precautions you can expect when you come to MCHC:

Screening Measures: We continue to screen patients for COVID-19-like symptoms over the phone and again upon arrival to the facility. An MCHC caregiver, wearing a mask and gloves, greets all patients at the door, asks about new respiratory symptoms, and checks the temperature of patients and their caregivers. If symptoms are present, patients are asked to return to their vehicle and they will be called when we are ready to see them in our COVID-19 room. MCHC staff members are also screened for symptoms and fever when they report to work each day.

Limiting family members: Only one family member or caregiver is allowed to accompany a patient, and only if an extra person is needed. The caregiver must not be showing COVID-19-like symptoms. We are asking parents not to bring other siblings to their children’s appointments.

Facemasks: Providers, staff and patients are wearing masks in our facility. Please wear a mask from home or our greeter will provide you with a mask during the initial screening. We are asking patients to wear masks to protect themselves and our employees from possible virus transmission.

Lobbies: Our lobby areas are set up for social distancing and Plexiglas shields have been installed to protect our administrative staff. Hand sanitizer is available for patients to use prior to their appointment.

Telehealth Appointments: Telehealth visits are a great option for many patients. Call to determine if a face-to-face or telehealth visit would work best for you.

Disinfection and Cleaning: Even prior to COVID-19, we followed rigorous cleaning and disinfecting procedures in all facility areas. Because of COVID-19, we have ramped up our efforts to ensure that all surfaces are clean and safe.

Physical Therapy patients in our Madelia office have the option of using a separate entrance into the department if they can navigate a flight of stairs. This entry is south of the main Clinic entrance off of Drew Avenue. Physical Therapy patients that enter through this method will also be screened and given facemasks as described previously.

“We are pleased to welcome patients back to our Clinic to be sure that their routine health needs are met,” said Dr. Marc Wilkinson. “I think we can safely do this if we use the proper social distancing, good hand hygiene and masking, and above all respect each other. “

If you have any health concerns or would like to schedule an appointment, please call the Clinic at 507.642.5200 or Physical Therapy at 507.642.5211.

To keep our hospitalized patients safe, the “No Visitor Policy” is still in effect at the hospital.

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