Testing volumes:
- 4,965 total patients tested
- 338 have tested positive for Covid (6.8% of patients who are tested have
been positive)
- We have an increase of 22 positive cases since 8/7/2020
- The majority of those recent positive cases are outpatient and only 1 has
been admitted to the hospital.
Testing supplies: As of this morning, we only had 10 testing kits from the State but we
received another 450 kits mid-morning.
- The turnaround times for the State Covid testing lab is approximately 48
hours now.
- We have ceased using GuideMed testing due to turnaround times and logistical issues.
- LabCorp is our secondary option for testing (if needed) since we are no
longer using GuideMed.
Emergency Department volumes: We are
not experiencing significant volume increases in the ER related to Covid.
We are averaging around 50-55 total patients per day in the Emergency
Room (most of those visits are not suspected of Covid).
Inpatient volumes: We are seeing a few patients with Covid symptoms who are admitted to the
hospital each day. We only have 1 or 2 vented patients on a given day.
The acuity of our inpatients is relatively lower compared to March-May.
Some symptomatic inpatients are testing negative for Covid, but their
presentation is consistent with our Covid positive patients. We are treating
them accordingly.
Visitation policy changes:
- If a patient is Covid positive (or clinically diagnosed as positive) on
the inpatient unit, then we will no longer allow visitors, unless it is
an end-of-life situation.
- If a visitor is Covid positive, we will not allow them to visit a patient.
Such persons should be quarantined per CDC recommendations and not outside
their home.
- If the patient’s Covid test is “pending”, his/her visitor
must wear a mask while inside the facility and while inside the patient’s
room at all times.
Waldron Nursing Home:
- We are assisting with managing an active increase in positive cases at
Waldron nursing home. Additional testing of residents and employees will
be conducted soon. Waldron is also working with the Shelby Co Health Dept
and State Dept of Health.
Schools:
- With the resumption of school, two different schools have reported 1 positive
case to date. We have only transferred one patient under the age of 18
to a higher level of care. Said patient had underlying health conditions.