The Georgia COVID-19 Emotional Support Line, 1-866-399-8938, provides 24/7 free and confidential assistance to callers needing emotional support or resource information as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emotional Support Line is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals and others who have received training in crisis counseling.

Please follow the link below to review the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Daily Status Report.

https://link.zixcentral.com/u/d0533b51/mqVPtDlp6hGlrFiJ-uoD4Q?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fdph.georgia.gov%252Fcovid-19-daily-status-report%26data%3D02%257C01%257Csandra.cole%2540dph.ga.gov%257C3ba1c32825e442731aed08d7cb5a22e2%257C512da10d071b4b948abc9ec4044d1516%257C0%257C0%257C637201460354761420%26sdata%3DxiVIFz7U4WE0HtrIlrpQgjJDYWQKgvnSfy7ezLhDBsI%253D%26reserved%3D0

Here’s what you need to know if you have a Same Day Surgery procedure scheduled with us:

1. Surgery patients will be tested for Covid-19 four to five days prior to day of procedure.
2. Self-isolation will be required for all surgery patients after Covid-19 testing.
3. Surgery patients undergoing an elective procedure who test positive will be rescheduled and retested again prior to their procedure, if appropriate.
4. Appointments will be staggered to limit the number of patients in a waiting room.
5. Masks are mandatory for patients upon entry to hospital.
6. Enter the facility through the Radiology entrance where you should be met by staff. If a Same Day or OB Nurse is not present, please ring the bell for entry.
7. Staff will accompany you to either the Same Day Surgery Department or Kirbo Women’s Center for gynecological procedures.
8. Thank you for complying  with our Healthy Visitor Policy and have only one healthy visitor for your surgical procedure.
9. Preoperative assessments will be completed by phone when possible. If a facility visit is necessary for your pre-op, an appointment will be set up for you. Please enter through the Radiology entrance for your assessment and register at the front entrance of the hospital. A SDS nurse will meet you at the front lobby to complete the preoperative assessment.
10. Thank you for choosing us for your care.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is your source for everything Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) related. Click here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html  to learn more information about how to protect and care for yourself with Coronavirus.

Memorial Hospital and Manor Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information FOR THE COMMUNITY

May 31, 2020 Update

• Screening information

  As of  Sunday, May 31, 2020 Memorial Hospital and Manor COVID-19 screening information:

  • Tests Completed – 732
  • Results Pending -11
  • Results Received -721
  • Negative – 646
  • Positive – 75

   

  • Results posted are those collected at the hospital, but there may be other testing being done by private providers. More information and updates can be found at  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 and dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus

  and dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus

• MHM is providing drive-thru outpatient COVID-19 collections Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM in front of the hospital.
• We are following the most current guidelines for testing provided by the Georgia Department of Public Health.    As guidelines change, we will update our policy.

Service changes

Over the past week we have been working with our Medical Staff and infection prevention specialist on developing a plan to begin ramping up services in a safe and thoughtful way. The first phase of this rollout will occur over the next week, starting with diagnostic services and selective elective surgeries. For vulnerable individuals, services may be appropriate after thoughtful consideration and discussion with their physician.

As we ramp up services, we will be following steps to assure the care is safe for both our staff and our patients. These include:

• Surgery patients will be tested for Covid-19 four to five days prior to day of procedure.
• Self-isolation will be required for all surgery patients after Covid-19 testing.
• Surgery patients undergoing an elective procedure who test positive will be rescheduled and retested again prior to their procedure, if appropriate.
• Staggered appointment times to limit the number of patients in a waiting room.
• Continued temperature screenings at all entrances of the hospital.
• A separate entrance has been designated for surgery patients.
• Masks will be mandatory for staff, visitors, and patients upon entry to hospital
• Visitation will continue to be suspended for inpatients and emergency department patients
• Visitation for outpatient surgeries will also be prohibited unless they are necessary for an aspect of the patient’s care.

In addition to these measures, we have been implementing additional cleaning and infection practices. We will continue to clean/sanitize all areas daily.

For any patient concerned with making an in-person visit to their doctor’s office, we are able to provide Telehealth services for patients at AMP and Memorial Pediatrics.

COVID-19 testing will continue to be available at Memorial Hospital and Manor. Patients experiencing symptoms are encouraged to contact their physician or 229-416-8021 to speak to our infection prevention nurse.

• Scheduled surgical procedures:
  • Same Day Surgery Patients should use the Radiology Entrance to be screened prior to registering and reporting to Same day Surgery
  • Please contact your physician or surgeon with questions regarding your case and possible exceptions.
  • These restrictions represent the decisions at this time, but additional restrictions may be deemed necessary as the situation evolves. We will also share additional information as decisions are made about other types of hospital services.
• Scheduled OB/GYN patients
  • Scheduled OB/GYN patients should use the Entrance at the end of the labor and delivery unit.       You will be screened and given a mask before being registered and placed in a room.
• Cafeteria services
  • Cafeteria services for the community will remain closed until we feel the risk has been reduced

Patient visitor policy

•  Memorial Hospital and Manor will not allow visitors until further notice. Exceptions for one may be made by the House Supervisor or Director of Nursing for Spouses of patients in Labor and Delivery or if there is an immediate change in a patient’s medical condition or end-of-life.
• Vendors will only be allowed if they have a direct patient care or mission critical purpose —vendors need to check in at Materials Management
• Memorial Manor is not allowing visitors until further notice. Any necessary visit by a family member must be approved by the Director of Nursing or Administrator of the facility in advance unless there is an immediate change in the patient’s medical condition or end-of-life.
• Emergency Department Entrance:
• As an additional precaution to keep patients and employees protected in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are asking for all patients with the exception of OB and Same Day Surgery patients to enter through the ED entrance so that they can be screened.

What should you do at this time?

• As the virus becomes more community-spread around the country and state, the community should be taking precautions to identify those who are at risk of infection or may already be infected (Click here, Other Frequently Asked Questions, to see information about symptoms and when to call your physician). We recommend if someone is experiencing these symptoms to call their physician before going to the hospital or urgent care center.
• We should all take prudent steps to prevent the spread of this and many other viruses, like hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, coughing etiquette, staying home from work and public events when sick (Click here, Other Frequently Asked Questions).
• We should all follow state and federal guidance as the situation evolves and as local circumstances change.

What is Memorial Hospital and Manor doing in response to COVID-19?

• Multidisciplinary teams are actively engaged and have implemented patient screening processes, plans for care of COVID-19 patients, training updates for staff, limiting visitors as appropriate, and communicating internally and externally.
• We are following our existing policies and plans for infectious disease and emergency management. Our response to this virus is driven by the application of our existing infection control practices and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by staff, with modifications as needed to reflect the scope of the possible spread of the virus.
• We are using www.mh-m.org, MHM’s Facebook page (and other social media platforms), and the Post Searchlight to keep the community updated.

How to prepare households, business and schools

Please click the following links for Department of Public Health/CDC guidance on preparing households, businesses and schools for outbreaks of COVID-19.

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are common viruses that usually cause upper respiratory infections such as the common cold. Covid-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that emerged in China that can cause severe symptoms including pneumonia.

Coronavirus prevention.

There are some everyday preventative steps you can take to help keep you and your family healthy. The Georgia Department of public health has recommended some prevention tips.

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick unless you are seeking medical care.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm or tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

How is Covid-19 spread?

PERSON TO PERSON SPREAD

• The virus can be transmitted between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouth or nose of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

SPREAD FROM CONTACT WITH INFECTED SURFACES OR OBJECTS

• It is possible that individuals may contract Covid-19 by touching a surface or objects that have the virus on it, and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes, but that is not thought to be the main way the virus is spread.
• If you have symptoms and answer yes to these questions, call your doctor or the hospital at 229-246-3500 before showing up.

• Do you have a fever greater than 100 degrees?
• Do you have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as cough or sore throat?
• Have you traveled within the last 14 days to an affected geographic area?
• Have you been in contact with someone known or suspected to have Covid-19?
• More information and updates can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 and dph.georgia.gov/novelcoronavirus.

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