2020

March 16, 2020

Missouri Highlands Health Care- COVID-19 Clinical Protocol

3/16/2020 As we continue to closely monitor the evolving nature of COVID19, we are taking every precaution to keep our staff and community members as safe as possible. Following the recommendation of public health and the CDC. Please call your clinic if you are experiencing signs and/or symptoms of COVID19. (i.e. Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath after recent travel outside of the USA or exposure to positive patient(s) with COVID19). All Missouri Highlands Health Care clinic locations will be using the car-side assessment for patients experiencing signs and/or symptoms of COVID19. A hotline is being operated by medical professionals and is available 24-hours a day, 7-days per week. Hotline number is 877-435-8411. Due to the policies of St. Francis, sick patients will not be allowed to utilize the elevators at 225 Physicians Park, Poplar Bluff. St. Francis staff will continue to screen all patients entering the building. Missouri Highlands Medical Clinic in Poplar Bluff will be a well clinic only for an undetermined time. Their sick patients will be diverted to the Naylor Medical Clinic and those unable to travel the distance can be diverted to the Urgent Care at the Coppertop. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The CDC recommends social distancing as one method to prevent the spread of COVID19. This means avoiding crowded places and maintaining distance from others when possible. Please make sure to continue the use of Universal Precautions within your clinic location. (i.e. proper cleaning, wearing masks, washing hands, etc.)

Patients, before entering into a clinic facility or ER please consider the following procedure...

With coronavirus now detected in our region, we want to do our part to minimize the spread of cold/flu or coronavirus. Please provide us with the following information for your upcoming appointment.

Interviewer:

Individual Served:

Location:

Date:

Time:

Does the patient/client or individual accompanying present with any of the following symptoms?

Yes, is this the patient/client or individual accompanying Specify __________________
Fever Duration of Symptoms
Cough Duration of Symptoms
Shortness of breath Duration of Symptoms

Does the patient or individual accompanying have any of the following exposures?

Travel outside of the United States? Specify
Traveled to any affected area within the United States? Specify
Community contact with a lab confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case patient?

- If yes, where was the contact made? Specify________________________________

Household contact with a lab confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case patient?

- If yes, who in the household? Specify______________________________________

If you experiencing these symptoms, please go to your local hospital or emergency room immediately and test for the virus. MHHC & your local health department are unable to provide testing for COVID-19. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) activated a statewide public hotline for citizens needing guidance regarding the novel coronavirus. The hotline can be reached at 877-435-8411. The hotline is being operated by medical professionals and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thanks for your patience and understanding as we continue to make decisions and develop plans to protect the well-being of all staff, individuals served and community members.

Please call your local clinic or the 877-435-8411 hotline number before entering into a clinic or ER. Thank you.