Your Health, Our Heroes

Your Health and Safety Remain Our #1 Priority

Frequently Asked Questions for Patients

• Is the hospital clean and safe?

  Our hospital is clean and safe -- just like it always has been! One of the core elements of properly managing infectious diseases is the cleanliness of our physical facility. Our hospital keeps current on the most effective cleaning and disinfection protocols available in healthcare today. We clean ALL equipment, reception and waiting areas, restrooms, chairs, door handles, carts, call systems, TV remotes, telephones throughout all departments of the hospital and other hard surfaces regularly through the day before applying an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant. Our environmental services team thoroughly cleans and disinfects all surfaces when a patient is discharged from a surgical suite or patient room. The air systems are inspected, tested and serviced on a regular basis by our qualified technicians. We provide proper air exchanges in accordance with all healthcare regulations.

• Do you have the supplies and capacity to accommodate my procedure?

  Our clinical team will conduct a daily "go/no-go" meeting in which they will review crucial supplies such as personal protective equipment (PPE), medications, blood, space and staffing to ensure that we have enough to comfortably care for those undergoing elective/non-urgent procedures AND accommodate our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

  We are not booking our schedules to full capacity. Out of an abundance of caution and with the conservation of supplies in mind, we are not starting with a full schedule right away. Should things continue to progress positively, we'll increase our capacity on a week-by-week basis. This is for your safety and ours.

• Do you have enough staff to resume elective/non-urgent procedures?

  Our team regularly monitors staffing levels to ensure a safe environment for all patients, providers and employees. In addition, we screen all employees daily for COVID-19 symptoms. We are confident that we have the appropriate staff and providers to resume elective and non-urgent procedures while also accommodating our normal emergency care and potential COVID-19 patients.

• Will my experience be the same as in the past?

  Your experience in our facility may look a little different than in the past, but this is because we have new processes and procedures in place to further protect your health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• What should I expect during my procedure?

  Upon arrival at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask or bandana to cover your mouth and nose, you can wear that.

  We have transitioned to limited visitor restrictions. Surgery patients are allowed one (1) WELL family member/spouse/friend/caregiver to enter the hospital. Once the surgery begins, we may ask your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver with you to wait in their car until your procedure is complete. When you arrive, you will park and enter through the ER entrance of the hospital. We will gather the contact information (name and phone number) of your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver with you upon arrival. We collect this information so we can follow up with them to provide an update after your procedure, share instructions for post-operative care and let them know when you will be discharged. You will leave the hospital through the same location you arrived.

  You may not see another patient while you are here, and that is intentional for now. We are currently trying to minimize patient encounters from overlapping in an effort to promote social distancing, conserve resources, and protect the safety of all of our patients and employees.

  You are going to be asked COVID-19 screening questions multiple times by multiple people, up until you are admitted for your procedure. You may get tired of these questions, but we assure you they are for your health and safety, and that of our staff.

  You may never see the faces of your care team members under their protective equipment. We do regret this, as the personal connections we have with our patients and community are what keep us going. However, this is an important precaution we are taking to protect you and our clinical staff.

• What questions will I be asked during the screening?

  The questions are part of our standard COVID-19 screening process and include asking if you have....

  • Cough 
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  Or at least two of these symptoms:

  • Fever 
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

  Whenever you are asked, please answer these screening questions honestly. If your procedure has to be postponed, it will be just that: postponed. It does NOT mean it will be canceled, and we will work with you to reschedule as soon as possible.

• How will I prepare for my procedure?

  If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be asked to practice "safer at home" behaviors to minimize potential exposure prior to your procedure. This means going a step further from social distancing -- trying only to leave your home for critical needs such as groceries or going to the pharmacy. If you need to leave for an essential purpose, you must wear a mask. You will also be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure as an additional precaution.

  If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

• Will I be tested for COVID-19?

  If you are having a surgical procedure, you will be tested for COVID-19 prior to your procedure. Your provider will contact the surgery department to schedule your surgery, send any pre-admission surgical testing orders and place the order for the COVID-19 test. The Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) team at the hospital will reach out to you with your surgery date and schedule you for your COVID-19 test along with any pre-admission surgical testing. All patients undergoing surgery complete pre-admission surgical testing either by phone or in-person. If a patient does their pre-admission surgical testing over the phone, the scheduled COVID-19 test will be performed while you remain in your car at the ER entrance. If pre-admission surgical testing orders include lab work, PAT will ask you to come to the hospital laboratory at a scheduled time for you to have your COVID-19 test and lab work done together. If your COVID-19 test happens to be positive a representative from the hospital will notify you. Your procedure will be postponed, and you will be informed to contact your primary care provider to be given instructions related to your care. If you are having an imaging procedure, you will be screened and masked, but not tested for COVID-19.

• Can my family member/spouse/friend/caregiver come with me to the facility?

  Yes, we have transitioned to limited visitor restrictions. Surgery patients are allowed one (1) WELL family member/spouse/friend/caregiver to enter the hospital. Once the surgery begins, we may ask your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver with you to wait in their car until your procedure is complete. When you arrive, you will park and enter through the ER entrance of the hospital. We will gather the contact information (name and phone number) of your family member/spouse/friend/caregiver with you upon arrival. We collect this information so we can follow up with them to provide an update after your procedure, share instructions for post-operative care and let them know when you will be discharged. You will leave the hospital through the same location you arrived.

• What happens when I arrive for my procedure?

  When you arrive at the facility, you will be asked the same standard screening questions and provided with a mask (if you do not already have one). If you have your own mask or bandana to cover your mouth and nose, you can wear that.

• Will I be treated near COVID-19 patients?

  We are not performing elective/non-urgent procedures on COVID-19 positive patients at this time.

  All patients who test positive for an infectious disease, including COVID-19, are isolated for treatment in accordance with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) and CDC guidelines.

• If I have additional questions about my procedure, who should I contact?

  If you have any questions, please call our team at 859-879-2365.