COVID 19 Update

Click here to read a letter from our CEO regarding the reopening of our Outpatient Clinics.

At this time, all visitor restrictions will remain in place. As we navigate our evolving safety protocols due to COVID-19, we want to clarify our visitor policy. No visitors are allowed in our Emergency Room or Outpatient Clinic. Only those patients who are being treated will be allowed in those areas. In our Medical/Surgical area, we will allow one (1) visitor per patient. This visitor must remain the same throughout the entire patient stay. The person selected as the patient’s visitor will be allowed to visit between the hours of 7 am and 4 pm, must wear a face mask at all times while they are within the building, and movement will be restricted to entering and exiting the building and visiting the patient in his or her room. The visitor will not be allowed in any other areas of the building.

Beginning at noon today (March 17, 2020), and continuing through March 31st, Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency. Our first priority is the health and safety of our patients, staff, and providers. With that in mind, we are closing the Cafeteria, Emergency Waiting Room and the Just Because Gift Shop.

Anyone accompanying an emergency patient will be asked to wait in their car while we care for the patient. No emergency visitors will be allowed inside the hospital. At this time, inpatients may have two (2) visitors. These are to be the same two (2) visitors for the duration of their stay. If you have an existing appointment for any of our services, our staff will contact you regarding the status of that appointment.

Decatur County Hospital has voluntarily implemented precautionary procedures to protect our patients, providers, staff and community

ATTENTION VISITORS

For the safety of our patients, families, and colleagues, at this time the following visitor restrictions are in effect:

• Only TWO visitors are allowed for each patient (parents/stepparents, spouse/significant other, etc)
• Visitors must:
  • Wash hands upon entering and exiting the patient’s room (Soap and water OR Alcohol-based hand foam/gel)
  • Be 16 years of age or older
  • Always remain in the patient room, as appropriate
  • Limit movement within the facility
  • Be free from illness (fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, vomiting, or diarrhea)

HELP PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY

We also encourage you to follow precautionary procedures when in public. If you have a cough, or are suffering from respiratory symptoms, avoid public as much as possible. Especially avoid community members who are in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. As always, we encourage you to frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

HOW TO FIND RELIABLE INFORMATION FOR FUTURE UPDATES

Due to the widespread uncertainty about this condition, we encourage you to pay close attention to the source of information providing updates about this issue. For current updates, please access the following trusted websites:

Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov

Iowa Department of Public Health at https://idph.iowa.gov

Decatur County Public Health at www.facebook.com/DecaturCountyPublicHealth

211 IOWA www.211iowa.org or call: 2-1-1, or 515-246-6555