The phrase “new normal” has been tossed around in conversations a lot these days. The fact is, until a vaccine against COVID-19 is developed, we won’t be able to return to the way things used to be. But, that’s okay. At Roosevelt Medical Center, there is a concrete plan guided by best practices and solid science to ensure the safest, and highest quality of care for patients. The process will just be a little bit different. For example, you won’t be able to enter the building without an appointment, someone will have to let you in and you’ll need to be screened for respiratory symptoms.
Roosevelt Medical Center, along with many other area facilities, have begun taking steps to re-open the clinic to elective procedures. The process will be a phased-approach that will be carefully implemented to ensure patient safety and prevent the spread of Covid-19 or a resurgence of the virus throughout the state. While fully prepared to care for Covid-19 patients, RMC has not had anyone present to the facility and test positive for the virus.
“We are excited and ready to begin the gradual process of returning to our normal patient care operations,” said Mandy Byrd, clinic director. “This phased plan is a safe approach for our organization to begin providing elective healthcare for the community again. Just as the rest of the community is, we are all anxious for the return of some normalcy in our lives. But, we will only do so safely and with patient safety our top priority,” she added.
On March 18, Montana hospitals stopped performing elective procedures in response to a request by Governor Steve Bullock. That action was necessary to conserve critical healthcare resources in order to ensure hospitals could respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, Governor Bullock authorized the state’s medical facilities to begin plans to gradually return to normal operations.
Some of the key elements of the first phase at RMC are:
• The restart of diagnostic radiology, laboratory and non-emergent outpatient services.
• All patients must have an appointment and should arrive 15-minutes early.
• No walk-ins are being accepted.
• All patients will be greeted and let into the facility front entrance following a temperature and questionnaire screening.
• All respiratory patients exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms will be treated in a specific treatment room that has been set up to keep those patients isolated to one area of the facility.
• Zoom meetings with providers will continue to be encouraged whenever feasible.
• All on-site tele-medicine video-exam patients will need to check in at the emergency room door where they will be masked and screened.
• All CT patients will need to check in at the emergency room door where they will be masked and screened.
• Exam rooms will continue to be sanitized after each patient use.
• All departments will stagger time slots to allow for social distancing of patients.
• All patients will be expected to wear a mask (cloth or surgical) as well as anyone accompanying them to their appointment. We ask that you come alone unless it is medically necessary that you are accompanied by a companion. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. Temperatures will be taken and a screening for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will occur on anyone entering the building.
• Staff will continue to be screened at the beginning of every shift and are required to wear a mask in all patient care areas.
• Visitor restrictions will continue with exception to end-of-life situations.
For more information please contact 406-787-6401.
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