Mid-South hospitals change protocol amid coronavirus outbreak

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Several hospitals have announced changes to their protocols as the coronavirus spreads throughout the Mid-South and the nation.

Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation

New visitor policy:
Baptist Reynolds Hospice House:

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital

Tent outside of Emergency Department – Le Bonheur has erected a tent outside of our Emergency Department. This tent is intended only to help facilitate existing screening procedures for those entering the hospital and is not a public drive-by screen location.
Postponing Elective Surgery – Le Bonheur is limiting all elective surgeries and certain clinic appointments, along with selective tests and procedures. We will continue to collaborate with our surgeons and physicians on this process. If a patient’s appointment, surgery test or procedure needs to be cancelled, they will be called directly. If they have questions, they should reach out to their physicians.
Visitation - Only two healthy adult designated caregivers will be allowed to visit patients. All visitors to any Le Bonheur facility will be screened upon entrance. If they meet any of the criteria below, they will be asked not to enter the facility:
Screening checkpoints will be located at entrances.
Le Bonheur Associates Screening – Starting later this week, providers and employees of Le Bonheur will undergo screening when entering a Le Bonheur campus building. They will receive the same verbal and temperature screening.
Volunteers – Our volunteer program has been suspended to limit visitors to the building.
Information for Parents – Visit //www.lebonheur.org/coronavirus for the latest information and links to a COVID-19 Resource Center for parents.

Memphis VA Medical Center

Call (901) 577-7221 before visiting, even if you already have an appointment.
All Memphis VA Medical Center clinics and operations are operating normally except for the updated visitor, patient and staff restrictions/guidelines below:
Effective immediately, the Bed Tower, Emergency Department and Spinal Cord Injury Building (1st floor), are the only entrances available for use.
All patient screening for COVID-19 has been relocated from the ER to tents staged in the small parking lot adjacent to the Emergency Department.
Outpatients should come to appointments alone if possible, but if necessary, limit the number of individuals accompanying you.
The following are the hours of operation for each entrance:
Emergency Department Entrance
Spinal Cord Injury Entrance - 1st Floor (For Employees Only)
All scheduled events or gatherings are canceled until further notice.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

New visitor policy:
Employee and physician COVID-19 screening begins March 19 at all six MLH hospitals. Screening will expand to other MLH facilities March 23.
Elective procedures, routine screenings and diagnostics are being canceled effective March 23.
Visit methodisthealth.org/primarycare if you need a primary care physician.

Northwest Mississippi Medical Center

New visitor policy:
All patients and visitors will be screened at the above entrances for respiratory illness symptoms and travel to locations experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks will receive further evaluation.
Visitors must stay in patient’s room until they leave the facility. Exceptions will be granted by the unit’s nursing staff.
Approved visitors who leave the hospital outside of the revised visiting hours will not be allowed to re-enter until the following day.
Only a visitor with a patient will be allowed in the cafeteria to eat breakfast and/or lunch.
Families are encouraged to consider remote visits by telephone or video chat.

Pediatrics East

Because we cannot screen walk-in patients, we have decided to suspend our walk-in morning clinics beginning Tuesday, March 17. NO WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS FOR NOW.
We will be screening patients and their families on the appointment line to assess their risk of having COVID-19. If needed, we will arrange for patients to be screened, assessed, and perhaps tested for COVID-19 based on recommendations from the Health Department. Just last week, this system led to a patient being completely evaluated for this virus without coming to our clinic.
For the upcoming weeks, we will be setting aside a certain block of time in the mornings for checkups for our youngest patients – newborns through 2-year-olds.
The schedule for the remainder of the days will be open for any kind of appointment – sick visit, ADHD, checkups (both younger and older children).
We have plans in place to intensify our already extensive cleaning of each patient room with specific measures to address COVID-19.

Regional One Hospital

As of 9 a.m. Friday, March 20, most areas of Regional One Health will not allow visitation.
Exceptions for adult visitors (18 or older) include:
Exceptions only apply if a visitor screens negative for symptoms of any respiratory infection (fever, new or changing cough, rhinorrhea or worsening shortness of breath).

Saint Francis Hospital

Beginning 8 a.m. Friday, March 20 no visitors are allowed without the following exceptions:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Modified work arrangements so most staff can work from home.
Educating the workforce on how to stay safe.
Connecting virtually instead of traveling and meeting face-to-face.
Fundraising events are postponed.
Limiting the number of visitors.
All visitors are prohibited from entering campus except for the following groups:
All of the above will be screened before entering the campus.
All campus tours are canceled until further notice.
All patient and family events in the hospital and housing facilities involving non-St. Jude or non-ALSAC employees are canceled until further notice.
All on-campus scientific and medical conferences, events, symposia and workshops involving non-St. Jude employees are canceled through the month of March. Stay tuned for a decision on April events.
Reducing the number of people who are on the St. Jude campus. A maximum of 2 caregivers may accompany patients onto campus.
Rescheduling many non-urgent and research-related patient appointments.
If anyone in your household has COVID-19 symptoms, call your primary clinic. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and runny nose. The care team may recommend COVID-19 testing.
Reschedule your appointment if family members are sick and the visit is not required for therapy.
Please do not bring siblings to campus.
Plan to arrive at campus early if you are driving. It may take you longer than usual to get through the gates.
When you arrive at appointments on campus, you will be asked screening questions at security gates.
If a patient or family caregiver has COVID-19 symptoms, you will be asked to call your primary clinic. Follow the care team’s instructions. The person with symptoms will likely have COVID-19 testing.
You will go through a screening station at the building entrance. We will ask about symptoms of illness and potential exposure to the virus.

Cambell Clinic

Introducing rigorous additional cleaning procedures, increasing the number of wipes, hand sanitizers, and other cleaning materials available at entrances, reception and check in and throughout our offices and other facilities for patients, guests, visitors, physicians, and employees to use.
Encouraging frequent hand washing, and discontinuing the practice of handshaking.
Beginning Monday, March 16, screening all patients, visitors, vendors, contractors and guests prior to entering any of our offices. This screening is comprised of a brief survey and all individuals who are determined to be a low risk for exposure to the coronavirus will be issued a “sticker” to be worn during the duration of their visit to Campbell Clinic. This step will provide an additional measure of safety to others potentially coming in contact.
Beginning Monday, March 16, screening all physicians, providers, employees, and authorized residents and other personnel. This screening is comprised of a brief survey and all personnel who are determined to be a low risk for exposure to the coronavirus will be issued a “sticker” to be worn, affixed to their name tag or name badge at all times. This sticker is to remain visible to patients, guests, and other personnel.
Taking sensible steps to help protect our team of physicians, other providers and employees. This means fewer meetings, limiting travel, and making it easier for our personnel to take the time they need to care for themselves or their families in the event they are directly affected by COVID-19.
Monitoring new developments so that we can quickly adapt and continue to provide the services you need and the best possible experience at our facilities despite the added safety and security.