News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/4/2020 12:00:00 AM EASTERN
Updated: 6/4/2020 5:58:30 PM EASTERN
For more information, contact Rochelle Williams.
More services reopen this week
Grant Regional Health Center
More services reopen to help patients get back to better health

Grant Regional Health Center is pleased to announce the reopening of all services at our hospital and clinics. We are resuming services in a safe, careful and responsible manner.

We recognize there are many illnesses and health issues outside of COVID-19, that’s why our hospital and emergency department is open 24/7 standing ready to care for those urgent health conditions. We are dedicated to providing the services you rely on while keeping you safe. Grant Regional is, and will continue to be, here for you.

In-person appointments have resumed for primary care well visits/immunizations, rehab, specialty care including orthopedics, urology, gynecology, and other diagnostic appointments. In addition, our Therapeutic Services, Specialty Clinics including Dr. Chubb, Podiatry and Fuerste Eye Clinic has reopened and more specialty providers will be returning in the coming weeks.

“In alignment with CDC guidelines, our hospital and clinic services have largely resumed normal operations after taking a phased approach to reopen,” says Dave Smith, President/CEO. “Our staff is reaching out to reschedule patients whose appointments were cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19.  If you need medical care, we are encouraging patients to please call their provider to be scheduled for the care they need.”

In the past week, Grant Regional has resumed clinic hours, elective procedures, outpatient/specialty appointments and elective surgeries. “With increasing patients back into the hospital and clinics, we are taking a measured approach to ensure patients and our healthcare staff remains protected and safe from exposure to COVID,” explains Smith. “Processes we may have thought were temporary have now found their way into our daily routines. Our recovery plan is extensive as we address how we resume all normal operations while at the same time ensuring we can flex and accommodate COVID situations. This means we monitor our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) supplies, testing, screening, inpatient/medical/surgical bed capacity and unit separation, and more, so that we can adjust if needed.”

“We are pleased to see patients return,” says Angie Cohen, RN, Infection Preventionist at Grant Regional. “Delaying important medical care can have serious consequences. We want to reassure patients that it’s safe to get the care they need, which can help prevent medical conditions from becoming more severe and leading to an emergency visit or negative long-term impacts. We’re taking extra precautions to keep you safe,” says Cohen. “Our Safe Care Promise is our way of placing an important focus on enhanced safety protocols designed to help protect and reassure patients our hospital is a safe place to receive care.”

And you’ll find that promise true at all of our locations. When you call to make an appointment we’ll ask you questions about your health and any symptoms you may be experiencing.  When you arrive at our hospital, you’ll be greeted by a safe care navigator who will take your temperature, screen you for Covid-19 symptoms, provide you with hand sanitizer and if you don’t already have a face covering, we’ll give you a mask to wear during your visit. All patients, visitors and staff are required to wear a face covering in all our locations.”

When you arrive inside, you’ll notice that things are a little different in response to creating a safe environment for patients to return to appointments. Our staff will be wearing PPE to protect you as well as them from potential exposure. You’ll also notice that we’ve arranged our waiting areas and registration areas with social distancing in mind to allow for adequate space between patients. We’ve also added extra protection by installing plexi-glass shields at registration bays and hand sanitizer stations throughout the hospital. We have always followed stringent cleaning protocols for added safety. Our lobbies including high touch surfaces and high traffic areas are disinfected and cleaned frequently throughout the day for your safety. In addition, we are scheduling patients with staggered appointment times at all our locations to allow for fewer arriving and registering at the same time, and enhanced cleaning time in between patients.

As of June 1st, we have changed our visitor restrictions and are now allowing one visitor for inpatient/Med-Surg patients per day. Visitor restrictions are still in place for other departments including Family Practice Clinics, Rehab, Outpatients and Surgery. This means when you have an appointment at our hospital or clinics, we ask that you not bring family members or children with you to your appointment unless there is a need for physical or communication assistance.

While the pandemic tested and stressed many processes, it also opened new doors to how we deliver care. Our clinics continue to offer Video Health Visits for patient convenience. If you prefer to see your provider from the comfort of your home, please ask to have a Video Health Visit scheduled for you.  For now, video visits can serve as a way to stay connected to your provider if patients choose not to come in person. It’s not meant to replace visits to one’s provider, but can enhance and complement care provided to patients.

We are looking forward to helping our patients get back to better health. To schedule appointments at the hospital in Radiology or Lab, call 608.723.2143; Grant Regional Community Clinics in Lancaster, Cassville or Potosi, call 608.723-2131; Therapeutics/Rehab (608) 723-3236; Specialty Clinics (608) 723-3249 or Fuerste Eye Clinic in Lancaster 888.582.0769.