Hillsboro Area Hospital issued the following announcement on June 2.
Hillsboro Area Hospital’s mission is to positively affect the health and welfare of the communities we serve. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, HAH had postponed elective surgeries to minimize the risk of exposure. The health, well-being, and safety of every patient, visitor, and team member has always been and remains our highest priority. As a community, we are excited to work together to keep our neighbors safe while resuming elective procedures.
On Monday, May 18, Hillsboro Area Hospital resumed certain elective procedures and surgeries that were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health, HAH implemented additional safety measures to help ensure our patients receive the highest level of care possible.
As scheduled appointments, testing, and surgical procedures continue to expand, we have implemented the following safety steps:
Screening staff and patients before they enter the building
Cleaning waiting rooms more frequently
Thoroughly disinfecting surgical rooms between each patient visit
Maintaining a “no visitor” policy
Reformatting waiting rooms to enable social distancing
Requiring face masks to enter our facilities
Pre-op/pre-procedure COVID-19 testing to determine negative status
Following the IDPH’s guidelines, patients must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to elective surgery. Hillsboro Area Hospital will assist in scheduling this test when discussing the preoperative procedures with the patient. To ensure the patient’s safety, they should self-quarantine after testing negative for COVID-19 until the date of their procedure.
The state guidelines also require that patients have only one support person, who may not wait at the hospital during the procedure. Support people will be provided with updates by phone and additional instructions will be provided based on the type of procedure.
Hillsboro Area Hospital is very grateful for your understanding and compliance with these guidelines while we work to safely return you to the activities you enjoy most. We know this pandemic has been difficult to navigate at times. On behalf of all HAH team members, we thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep those around you safe. Because you are social distancing, washing your hands, and limiting your exposure to other we are able to take these steps forward. Thank you for helping us flatten the curve one day at a time and for continuing to social distance to keep your neighbors safe.
Your healthcare provider will be reaching out to individuals whose surgeries were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Hillsboro Area Hospital continues to broaden the number of elective surgeries available, we will provide updates. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, please contact Hillsboro Area Hospital at (217) 532-6111.
Original source can be found here.
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