(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - To protect patients, caregivers, and their loved ones during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center announced they will restrict the number of people who enter the facility.

This is being accomplished several ways.

Effective Thursday, March 19, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center will restrict all visitor access to the facility. Security personnel will be posted at the main entrances. Other entrances will be locked.

Individuals seeking emergency care for non-life-threatening conditions should use the Medical Center’s main entrance by the roundabout between 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. After hours, anyone seeking emergency care should use the Emergency/Ambulance entrance at Carlanna Lake Road. Security personnel will ask basic health screenings questions and check temperatures prior to entry.

Loved ones are encouraged to connect with hospitalized patients using smart phone applications, such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Skype, during this period of limited face-to-face support. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the patient’s care team.

PeaceHealth Medical Group is also limiting clinic access to patients with scheduled appointments and essential support person(s) only. All Individuals without appointments, experiencing fever or respiratory infection symptoms (e.g. cough), must call their healthcare provider’s office before arriving to arrange for an appropriate care setting.

PeaceHealth Ketchikan has also suspended all elective surgical procedures until further notice.

Other services are being evaluated. Impacted patients will be notified by phone regarding adjustments to scheduled procedures. This will free up space in our hospital, conserve supplies, and help ensure the safety of all patients, community and caregivers.
As always, patients with urgent needs such as respiratory or cardiac symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Visit peacehealth.org/coronavirus to read the latest news at PeaceHealth, as well as helpful education and prevention resources related to COVID-19.

Source of News:

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
www.peacehealth.org/ketchikan

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