KRH to begin Phase 2 of service re-introduction beginning Monday, May 4

Keeping our patients and employees safe has been our primary focus, especially during this pandemic. While many of our services have been closed, we have prepared a thoughtful service re-introduction plan to safely begin opening some needed services. We have diligently followed guidance from the government and public health officials during this pandemic and the process for re-starting clinical services is no exception. Our measured approach will gradually re-introduce certain clinical services while also continuing to protect the health and safety of our patients and employees.

We began Phase 1 of our service reintroduction plan on Monday, April 27, by bringing some patients into clinic settings, performing some diagnostic testing such as CT or MRI, and seeing patients in the clinics in preparation for upcoming procedures.

Beginning the week of May 4, we will begin Phase 2 to increase our ability to care for the patients who have patiently waited for resources to become available again. While we will introduce some operative and interventional procedures as well, we expect the majority of the initial cases to be outpatient in nature, but we will need to take care of some patients who require inpatient care as well.

The health and safety of our patients and employees continues to be our highest priority. We have had many safety practices underway and these will continue:

• Encouraged use of telehealth in lieu of in-person office visits when possible, especially for vulnerable patients.
• Visitor restrictions at all facilities.
• Screening for all employees, patients and essential visitors, including travel history and temperature checks, when entering the facility.
• Masking of all staff, patients and visitors.
• Appropriate use of PPE to protect our workforce.
• Separating patients with known or suspected COVID-19 in designated areas to reduce the risk of exposure.
• Social distancing within the facilities, including minimizing time in waiting rooms, spacing chairs at least six feet apart, and reducing the number of people in one area simultaneously.
• Ensuring the thorough cleaning and disinfection of all spaces and equipment and practicing hand hygiene.

This measured approach will be rolled out gradually by re-introducing these services at various locations on various days. Patients should contact their providers’ offices with any questions. We will continue to evaluate daily operational needs as we phase in re-starting services and will initiate return-to-work for furloughed employees as appropriate. And, we will continue to evaluate daily and initiate subsequent phases of our re-introduction plan as appropriate.

In addition, we will be prepared to scale back again, if necessary, should there be a rise in cases or a change in the pandemic status.

Patients will be contacted by their providers’ offices to reschedule any postponed appointments.

Community members are reminded that the best way to prevent the spread of illness is through preventive measures including:

• Washing hands thoroughly and often.
• Covering your cough.
• Avoiding touching your face.
• Staying home if you’re sick.
• Practicing social distancing
• Avoiding close contact with people who are ill.
• Wear a mask in public areas

Visit www.krh.org/COVID-19 for up-to-date information and care resources.