Emergency health providers in Montgomery, Boone and Tippecanoe counties have announced restrictions relating to hospital visitors and surgical centers, with one canceling upcoming events.
Franciscan Health Crawfordsville, Witham Health Services in Lebanon and St. Vincent Medical Group in Lafayette have all implemented the advice of their parent organizations, announcing a number of updates through Monday.
Franciscan Health
Due to the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), no visitors will be allowed at Franciscan Health’s three campuses, located in Crawfordsville, Lafayette and Rensselaer, the health network announced Sunday.
Considerations are possible for certain visitors at each campus. However, strict rules come with these exceptions.
• One healthy adult visitor per patient will be admitted in the emergency department, labor and delivery units (Lafayette East), outpatient surgery wings, pediatric units (Lafayette East), NICU (Lafayette East) and outpatient Cancer Center services. End-of-life situations also will be considered for visitors.
• Appropriate and approved visitors will be screened at the entrances. If a visitor is revealed to have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, or has any other symptoms (cough, sore throat, stuff/runny nose, chills, nausea or vomiting), they will not be allowed to enter.
• Any COVID-19-positive inpatient will be not be allowed to receive visitors, except the parent of a child who has tested positive for COVID-19.
All hospital clinical staff will also be screened, the network said, at the beginning of their shifts.
Visitor entrances will be closed, and the only point of entry will be through the emergency department.
As this situation is continuously evolving, the health network encourages residents to check for updates at www.FranciscanHealth.org/covid-19.
Ascension Medical Group - St. Vincent Lafayette
Ascension’s Lafayette location at St. Vincent Hospital is also restricting visitors. Also effective Monday, both inpatient and outpatient settings will be restricted to visitors “to minimize the spread of viral respiratory infections,” a Monday afternoon press release reads.
Infection prevention and emergency response teams at Ascension (St. Vincent Lafayette) are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve response methods as adjusted health department recommendations stream in.
The hospital is offering video urgent-care visits at a discounted rate of $20 until April, so patients can seek medical advice from home, with no insurance required. Those interested should use discount code “HOME” at Ascension Online (www.choose.ascension.org/onlinecare).
Witham Health Services
Two announcements were released from Witham Health Services, which maintains a hospital site in nearby Lebanon.
Concerning temporary visitor restrictions, the healthcare network has said no visitors will be permitted with the exception of labor, delivery and postpartum units, where “two pre-determined visitors will be allowed for each patient.”
Exceptions will also be made for end-of-life care and special circumstances, the network announced.
Witham Health Services has also suspended planned public events at its facilities. This “temporary” suspension of activities, at this time, has no expiration listed.
Participants in classes, support groups and community meetings are encouraged to call the following numbers for class updates: Wellness events and programs, 765-485-8126; Alzheimer, cancer, diabetes and grief support groups and classes, 765-485-8120; and breastfeeding support groups and classes, 765-485-8411.
The health network encourages all Hoosiers to visit the following websites: www.cdc.gov, www.in.gov.isdh and www.witham.org.
Surgical Centers
Governor Eric Holcomb’s office announced at the Statehouse on Monday afternoon that “hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately.” The move will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs, he said.
However, physicians were encouraged to continue to perform critical procedures that would be necessary to prevent adverse effects and to a patient’s overall health.
Prevent the Spread
The CDC offers advice through its website. Visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019.ncov/prepare/prevention.html for the following tips and more:
• There is currently no vaccine to prevent the coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person (between people who are in close contact with one another, typically within about six feet, and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes).
• Respiratory droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly inhaled into the lungs.
• Hand washing is the first recommendation by the CDC to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 second, especially after visiting a public space, or after a cough or sneeze. Hand sanitizer comprised of at least 60-percent alcohol is also recommended. The eyes, nose and mouth should also be avoided with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding contact with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and putting distance between oneself and others have shown to mitigate the spread.
• Stay home if sick.
• Wear a facemask if sick (there is no need to wear a facemask unless one has tested postive).
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces daily. This includes doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks.
To disinfect, options include: diluting household bleach (five tablespoons bleach per gallon of water, or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water; alcohol solutions; and other common EPA-registered household disinfectants).
