Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital Taking Precautionary Measures Regarding the Safety of Patients and Staff

March 17, 2020 (Springfield, Ohio) – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in compliance with CDC guidelines, Ohio Valley will be screening patients, visitors and staff for symptoms of acute respiratory illness(fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before entering our healthcare facility. Effective starting March 17, 2020, ALL Ohio Valley patients, visitors and staff will be screened upon entering and will be sent home if they are experiencing any of these symptoms. Please allow some extra time for the screening process.

Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital holds the safety of our associates, patients, and visitors as a top priority. The spread of COVID-19 is a growing concern in our community, especially with 50 confirmed positive cases in Ohio as of March 16. We closely follow information and recommendations from the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to stay current on confirmed cases and ensure we offer the best care to the people we serve. We also collaborate with other local health organizations, to monitor the health of our community.

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Visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH for answers. For frequently asked questions click here.

Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital, a physician-owned hospital, was established in 2009 and provides an award-winning care experience for elective surgical procedures and medical care. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, OVSH offers in-patient and out-patient surgical procedures, as well as affiliated services including imaging, 3D mammography, physical and hand therapy, sports performance improvement, colonoscopy screening and other wellness programs. Awarded the top CMS 5-Star rating for patient experience, Ohio Valley provides exceptional surgical and medical care to their patients, in an environment of personalized service.

OVSH COVID-19 FAQ

What is COVID-19 and what are the symptoms?

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory infection; symptoms include fever, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, and shortness of breath. Infection rates in the United States are low and most people experience mild symptoms.

Can I visit my loved one in the hospital?

Effective Friday, March 13, Ohio Valley Surgical Hospital is asking that each patient limit their visitors to 1 designated person at any given time. No visitors under the age of 14 will be permitted. This includes the surgical hospital and the medical office building.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Our focus is always on the health and safety of our patients, associates and community.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, healing environment for our patients.

How can I get tested for COVID-19?

Unfortunately, the availability of testing has been quite limited to date. Testing at this point is restricted to patients with certain criteria that would make them high risk for coronavirus, which is determined by the Ohio Department of Health.

If you have milder symptoms, we recommend you stay at home and self-quarantine. If you are feeling more ill with high fever, respiratory distress or shortness of breath, call your doctor who may send you to the Emergency Department. We are particularly concerned about people with significant risk factors: those who are immunocompromised, or those with significant heart or lung disease.

What Can I Do To Stay Healthy?

As always, good hygiene and proper handwashing techniques are best practices to keep you and your family healthy. According to the CDC guidance on handwashing, these five steps will help prevent the spread of germs:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Other ways to stay healthy:

• If you are feeling ill (fever, cough, shortness of breath), stay at home and avoid close contact with other members of your family.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces with household detergent and water prior to disinfection.

I have an appointment or procedure already scheduled. Should I cancel it?

We recommend that you discuss with your doctor to determine the best course of action for you. In addition, we ask that you take note of our revised policies for our facilities:

• Ohio Valley is asking that each patient limit their visitors to one (1) designated person. No visitors under the age of 14 will be permitted.
• Ohio Valley will be screening patients, visitors and staff for symptoms of acute respiratory illness (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before entering our healthcare facility. Effective starting March 17, 2020, ALL Ohio Valley patients, visitors and staff will be screened upon entering and will be sent home if they are experiencing any of these symptoms.
• Any changes to these recommendations will be published on this page and on our Facebook page.

Are there other closures or cancellations?

In the interest of public safety and the health of our community, all IMPACT Joint Replacement Program, Breast Cancer Program classes are cancelled until further notice. Our Lunch & Learns hosted by United Senior Services will also be cancelled at this time.

We appreciate your understanding as we respond to the health needs of our community.

For additional information, please contact the Ohio Department of Health
COVID-19 Call Center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.