Changes to patient experience will be implemented to ensure highest levels of safety
As the State of Michigan enters a new phase in its path to COVID-19 recovery, Memorial Healthcare is planning to resume non-emergency and non-COVID-19 healthcare services. Memorial Healthcare’s resumption approach has been designed to meet the needs of the local community while creating a safe space for patients and caregivers.
“The health and safety of our patients and staff remain our primary focus as we begin planning to reopen our doors in accordance to state guidelines,” said Brian Long, FACHE, President/CEO of Memorial Healthcare. “At Memorial Healthcare, we have a strong track record of patient safety, including recently becoming the only mid-Michigan hospital to receive both an ‘A’ rating from The Leapfrog Group and four stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These types of accolades show that patients can be confident in the safety and quality of their treatment at Memorial Healthcare.”
To ensure the highest quality patient safety and care, Memorial Healthcare patients and visitors should expect important changes during their next visit. Memorial Healthcare and the Memorial Medical Associates network of physicians will begin resuming appointments, consultations and procedures gradually. Please contact your primary care provider for the latest information regarding services that are currently available.
As part of Memorial Healthcare’s resumption strategy, healthcare providers will continue to offer telemedicine options as an alternative to on-site visits. Patients can see their own provider through these virtual appointments for consultations, follow up appointments and more. To make a telemedicine appointment, please contact your provider’s office.
Visitor restrictions will remain in place in order to minimize the flow of people throughout the hospital. Furthermore, every patient will be tested for COVID-19 in advance of any surgical procedure or operation as a precautionary measure.
Memorial Healthcare will continue to offer extensive COVID-19 testing for those with symptoms and those without. For anyone experiencing mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, Memorial’s Alternate Care Site remains available on a walk-in basis on the hospital’s main campus. Asymptomatic individuals can schedule an appointment to be tested for COVID-19 through the Priority Testing Site, and antibody testing is available for individuals and employers. For social distancing purposes, we ask that you contact (989) 720-2131 to schedule your COVID-19 testing appointment.
Other changes taking place include:
Scheduling of appointments: Each patient’s circumstances will be evaluated by their provider to determine how soon they should return for in-person care or a scheduled procedure, or if their care needs could be handled through a virtual visit. Please contact your Memorial Healthcare provider to schedule your next appointment.
Limited entry points: All staff, patients and caregivers will enter the hospital at designated entry points.
Screening:
- Anyone entering a Memorial Healthcare facility will be screened prior to entry or at point of contact. If there are any symptoms of COVID-19, patients will be referred for testing.
- Patients making in-person appointments at a Memorial Medical Associates office will be contacted prior to the appointment to assess whether they are experiencing any symptoms.
- All patients scheduled for surgery, regardless of whether they have symptoms, will be tested for COVID-19.
Face masks: All patients, caregivers and employees must wear a facemask while inside any Memorial Healthcare facility. If you are coming for a scheduled appointment, we ask that you wear a face mask prior to entering. If you don’t have one, a mask will be provided to you.
Enhanced cleaning of high-contact areas: Common areas such as waiting rooms, lobbies and restrooms are cleaned often, with special attention to frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, armrests and handrails. All exam rooms are fully cleaned and disinfected between each patient.
Waiting areas: All toys, magazines, pamphlets and educational materials have been removed from waiting areas. All drinking fountains have also been disabled until further notice.
Social distancing: The hospital has made special arrangements to support social distancing. Patients may see markers on the floors to show where people should stand for check-in and check-out. Furniture has been rearranged in waiting areas to create more space between individuals, and staff is scheduling appointments in a way that ensures fewer people are in facilities at any given time. Many locations will also have physical barriers at patient contact locations.
Patient flow: Many Memorial Medical Associates offices have altered the flow of traffic to adhere to social distancing guidelines. For example, patients are being brought directly into exam rooms, check-out procedures have been moved into exam rooms, and separate exits have been implemented.
Hand sanitizer: Hand sanitizer is available at each entrance and at numerous locations throughout each building. Everyone is asked to sanitize their hands when they enter the building. In addition, each member of the hospital’s healthcare staff sanitizes their hands before and after each patient encounter.
COVID-19 patient care: Memorial Healthcare is isolating patients who have tested positive or have shown symptoms of COVID-19 to specific treatment areas. Care teams have been assigned only to COVID-19 patients, and all employees working in COVID-19 patient care areas, screening areas and emergency departments are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves, gowns and eye protection. All staff members are trained in the proper use of PPEs and are experts in patient safety.
Individuals can contact their healthcare providers for more information on the resumption of services, whether they qualify for telehealth visits, and next steps for coordinating outpatient procedures.
