We appreciate your cooperation & patience during this time
During this global health emergency, the health and safety of our patients, employees, and community is our top priority. With the evolving situation regarding COVID-19, we are working closely with our local health department and following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
FAQ: For Families of Patients
What to expect when visiting the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Why can’t I wait for my family member at the emergency department waiting room?
We’re working to create a safe environment for staff, patients, and families during this time. COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus and we must limit the exposure to our staff and others, as well as limit the number of people in our waiting rooms. If your family member has come to the emergency department with symptoms of COVID-19, whether you have symptoms or not, we kindly ask that you wait elsewhere or return home. Minors under the age of 18 will require that a parent or legal guardian stay with them.
How will I get updates on my family member’s condition?
We will contact you when your loved one is ready to go home or if they are being admitted for further care. We encourage you to communicate with your loved one directly if possible for updates on their care. If they can’t answer your call or text, a staff member will contact you and provide you with updates. If you are the designated contact person for your family member, please provide our staff with your name, phone number, and email address.
If my family member is admitted, can I call the floor to ask the provider questions?
We encourage our patients to FaceTime or call their family members while the physician/provider is in the room so they can hear the update and ask any questions they may have. Please do not call the floors repeatedly. Our focus is your loved one and our nurses and doctors need to keep their attention on them as much as possible. If your loved one is unable to give you updates, our care team will work directly with a patient-approved designated family member who can update other loved ones on the patients behalf.
Can I visit my family member if they’re admitted to the hospital?
Visitors of all ages may visit
most units within the hospital;
dependent on the acuity and capacity of the unit, visitors under the age of 18 and/or more than one visitor may not be permitted. Visitors who have COVID-19 symptoms or have had close contact with a person who has COVID-19 will not be permitted to visit.
Who will be taking care of my family member if they’re admitted?
We have a whole team of healthcare professionals helping our patients throughout their stay here. Here are a few of the professional terms you may hear and what their role is in your loved one’s care.
Hospitalist: Hospital Doctor or Nurse Practitioner o Physician Assistant that has special training in caring for patients in the hospital setting.
Intensivist: A Doctor that has special training in critical care medicine.
Case Manager or Social Worker: A professional who is highly trained to assist patients and families with challenges they are facing while in the hospital and coordinating patient care.
Respiratory Therapist: A professionally trained therapist that focuses on management and treatment of breathing and airway conditions.
Physical/Occupational Therapist: A professional therapist who is highly trained to support patient movement, rehabilitation, and daily living therapies.
FAQ: For Families of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
What to expect when if my loved one or family member is hospitalized with COVID-19.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below.
If my family member is COVID-19 positive, does that mean I am too?
It is possible, yes, if you have been in close contact with them or if you share a home. Please go home and monitor your own well-being. If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow precautionary measures to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community. Get tested, stay at home (except to get medical care), monitor your symptoms, wear a mask over your nose and mouth when around other household members, and frequently clean high-touch surfaces.
When can my family member come home?
Our goal is to treat our COVID-19 patients and get them back home where they can continue manage their care. Infections with COVID-19 can result in a range of illness from mild symptoms (fever, cough, feeling tired, achy, runny nose sore throat) to severe illness (difficulty breathing, increased oxygen requirements, lung or other organ damage) and even death as a result of the illness.
We don’t know how COVID-19 will affect each person nor how everyone will respond to treatment. We are using evidenced-based care and approved best practices to treat COVID-19 in our patients.
