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Great River Medical Center to Resume Some Services

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Great River Medical Center is beginning to lift its temporary restriction on appointments and procedures due to COVID-19 precautions. This includes outpatient occupational, physical and speech therapy, mammography and DEXA bone-density scanning.

Some clinics also are resuming appointments. Great River Health Fitness will announce its reopening plan soon in response to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ authorization today to reopen fitness centers and other businesses statewide.

“Our plan is to reopen services slowly, said Teresa Colgan, chief, Clinical Operations. “Following CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health guidelines, we will maintain social distancing by staggering appointments to reduce the number of patients in waiting rooms, and seating will be at least six feet apart.”

Screening for COVID-19 symptoms, including body temperature, and recent travel continues.

Everyone inside the hospital and its facilities is required to wear a mask. Patients are encouraged to bring their own or they are provided at the screening stations.

These entrances and screening stations are open:

  • Main lobby – 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
  • Emergency Department – 24 hours daily
  • Cancer Care Plaza – 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
  • Eastman Plaza – 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • Mercy Plaza – 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday

Great River Medical Center followed strict cleaning procedures before COVID-19, and it continues its practice of disinfecting examination, procedure and inpatient rooms between patients.

While continuing a State Public Health Emergency Declaration, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation in late April allowing some elective procedures and surgeries to resume in a phased approach. The order requires hospitals to maintain an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to meet hospital needs with the reintroduction of services. Therefore, procedures that use a limited amount of PPE will begin first.

Elective services will be available to patients who are not at high risk for illnesses, including COVID-19. Patients are encouraged to call their providers’ offices for information about appointments and procedures. Telehealth visits are available for patients who cannot or should not come to a clinic.

Visiting restrictions have not changed:

Outpatient visiting restrictions

Outpatients at the hospital for clinic, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory appointments, and Emergency Department care may not be accompanied by a visitor except:

  • Patients under 18 may have one visitor who is a parent or guardian.
  • Patients having surgery or procedures may have one visitor on the day of surgery or the procedure only.
  • Patients requiring special assistance may have one visitor or guardian.
  • Emergency Department:
  • Visitors may be allowed based on the patient’s clinical situation.
  • Patients at end of life where death is imminent may have two visitors.

Inpatient visiting restrictions

Visiting is allowed only in designated areas. No visiting is allowed in these areas:

  • Behavioral Health Unit
  • Cardiovascular Care Unit
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Medical Care Unit
  • Medical-Surgical Unit
  • Progressive Cardiac Unit
  • Rehabilitation Unit

In other areas, patients are limited to the same visitors for the entire time they are hospitalized. They must stay in the patient’s room or designated visitor area. Visitors must be at least 18 years old (unless they are the parents of a pediatric patient). They must pass a screening before visiting these areas:

  • End of life when death is imminent – Patients may have two visitors.
  • Obstetrics Unit – Only the mother’s designated support person may visit unless the mother has a suspected or positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
  • Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – One birth parent plus one significant other may visit.
  • Pediatrics Unit /patients under 18 – One parent or guardian may visit.

Specific circumstances may further restrict visiting.

Families of the patients described below should discuss visiting options with the patient’s health care team.

  • Patients with disruptive behavior whose family member is key to their care may have one visitor.
  • Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays who require a caregiver to help provide safety may have one visitor.

Where to go for more information