North Country Healthcare Implements
Measures to Address COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
March 15, 2020; Whitefield, NH – North Country Healthcare
(NCH) has put in place a series of measures to increase our ability to safely treat
and serve during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) emergency.
Most significantly, an overarching NCH Incident Command Center
for situational awareness has been set up to link the Command Centers of each
affiliate hospital (Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Upper Connecticut Valley
Hospital, and Weeks Medical Center). In
addition, NCH has added representation from North Country Home Health &
Hospice Agency to address the unique needs of that patient population as well.
Precautionary, non-invasive screening at our hospital campuses
now act as an added safeguard against the possible spread of the virus and
other infectious diseases. All
individuals presenting on any NCH campus will be screened for symptoms
consistent with COVID-19 and be directed accordingly.
Patient screening is also being conducted via telephone with
those who have upcoming outpatient clinic appointments, to ensure a symptom-free environment for those within
the clinics/hospitals. Such screening is
also being conducted for patients who have home health visits scheduled through
North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, a North Country Healthcare
partner.
Effective immediately, affiliate hospitals have suspended
activities by their respective volunteers who are 60+ years old, to help limit
their risk of exposure to the virus.
Restrictions currently limit patients to one visitor between the
ages of 19-59 at a time.
Rigorous control standards continue to be enforced, including
hand washing, avoidance of unnecessary physical contact and appropriate social
distancing (six feet) within physical spaces.
PLEASE Call Prior
to Visiting an NCH Facility
Patients who are concerned that they may have been exposed to
COVID-19 should call the hospital before visiting any hospital campus or
clinic/center. To protect our patients,
providers and staff, please do not go the emergency room for treatment
unless you are having a medical emergency.
To help ensure the safety of our patients, providers, and
staff, Employee/Occupational Health team members at each facility are actively
screening and monitoring, per CDC guidelines, employees and medical providers
who return from travel. If and when any
possible COVID-19 encounter takes place, the appropriate CDC recommendation(s)
will be followed.
“As we implement these additional safeguards across North Country
Healthcare facilities, it is also a good time for everyone to remember that
each of us has a role to play in keeping ourselves and others healthy,”
commented Ed Laverty, PA-C, Chief Medical Officer, Upper Connecticut Valley
Hospital. Measures that everyone can take
include:
- washing
your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer;
- avoiding
touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
- avoiding
contact with sick people;
- staying
away from large crowds as much as possible;
- disinfecting
frequently touched surfaces.
If you become sick, stay home from work and school to avoid
infecting others. Avoid the emergency room for cough or runny nose
unless you are suffering from more serious symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu,
which include trouble breathing or shortness of breath; chest or abdominal pain
or pressure; sudden dizziness; confusion; severe or persistent vomiting;
symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough.
We remain committed to the health and well-being of everyone in
our community and encourage everyone to read up-to-date information from the
Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/coronavirus.
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