ORLANDO, Fla. — Tents are popping up outside of local Central Florida hospitals as staff prepare for a possible influx of patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
AdventHealth officials said they are setting up tents outside of each of their hospitals in preparation.
AdventHealth’s website has an alert urging those who feel they are at risk for having COVID-19 to call their health care provider or their local department of health.
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“In order to avoid the spread of COVID-19, you should avoid the emergency room at your local hospital except in cases of an emergency,” the bulletin says.
AdventHealth is also encouraging patients to take advantage of its telehealth services to be able to speak with a doctor from the comfort of your own home. Click here to read more about the available telehealth services.
Staying up to date on the latest coronavirus information can help you feel empowered to take the right steps to protect yourself, but where to start can feel a little overwhelming. Here’s a list of the most accurate and reliable sources you can trust. https://t.co/bF2aooaueX pic.twitter.com/WZxlyeN2nG
— AdventHealth (@AdventHealth) March 12, 2020
Halifax Health officials said they are taking a similar course of action, setting up emergency services tents and separate screening areas at all their hospitals in order to facilitate quicker and safer screening of patients who present with possible COVID-19 symptoms.
President and CEO of Halifax Health Jeff Feasel wrote in a statement that last week, with the exception of end of life situations, the hospitals restricted its visitation policy to allow only two visitors per patient. Only asymptomatic partners, immediate family over 12 years of age and health care surrogates may access Halifax Health locations.
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He said all visitors are screened for symptoms of the flu and possible COVID-19, and anyone with flu-like symptoms will not be allowed access.
“Our role in this pandemic is to remain open and ready to care for the most ill in our community,” he said.
Click here to read Feasel’s full statement.
Handling Coronavirus at Halifax Health. - A message from Jeff Feasel, President and CEO. https://www.halifaxhealth.org/COVID19LETTER
Posted by Halifax Health on Monday, March 16, 2020
As of March 13, Orlando Health said it is conducting verbal screenings of all visitors due to concerns about COVID-19.
“First and foremost, we want you to know that Orlando Health is prepared to care for COVID-19 cases and to protect the safety of our patients, visitors, team members and the communities we serve,” said David Strong, president and CEO of Orlando Health, in a statement.
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Orlando Health officials said all of their hospitals have done emergency preparedness drills in the event a COVID-19 patient is brought to one of their facilities, and that they are managing placement and supply selection for hand hygiene stations throughout their facilities.
Click here to learn more about what Orlando Health is doing to prepare.
We're verbally screening visitors at our hospitals & cancer center.
— Orlando Health (@orlandohealth) March 14, 2020
Don't visit if you have:
Fever 100.4F+
Cough OR shortness of breath
Recent case of pneumonia OR flu
Within 14 days, traveled internationally OR by cruise ship
Had contact with a confirmed or investigatory case pic.twitter.com/durjUzkk2v
Ocala Regional Medical Center officials said they are taking several steps to address the needs related to COVID-19 including:
- Limiting entry into hospitals and clinics so anyone who enters into patient care areas can be carefully screened, and masks can be provided to those who need them.
- Asking every employee, caregiver, and physician to follow a self-screening procedure.
- Taking precautions to treat patients with COVID-19 that are similar to those taken to treat patients with influenza, with restricted visitation to limit exposure, which officials said is commonplace procedure during any flu season.
- Cleaning to prevent the spread of infection is occurring throughout all of their care sites.
- Caring for those with COVID-19 symptoms in isolated areas of the hospital, so staff can safely provide continuous care for all other medical needs.
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